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. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
Sparks

170 cm
29
152 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

179 cm
30
165 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Down Under - Supplements.160Q Video Proof

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Sparks stuffs the takedown.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Sparks circles away easily

so Sparks counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
Sparks postures up.
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sparks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Sparks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nate Cruz just wasn't active enough.
Cruz tries to bum rush Sparks with a series of wild strikes but Sparks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz with a poor takedown
and Sparks counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sparks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Sparks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sparks.

Sparks closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Cruz pulls Sparks in close to his closed guard and prevents Sparks from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Sparks postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sparks won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sparks tries to sprawl but Cruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Sparks is having none of it.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Sparks defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz throwing shots but Sparks is blocking nicely.
Sparks is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sparks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sparks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sparks does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cruz trying to control from Sparks's half guard. Sparks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz throws a strike but Sparks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cruz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nate Cruz will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz gets a double leg takedown into Sparks's guard.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Sparks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cruz looking to control.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nate Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz controls Sparks momentarily but Sparks frees himself.
Sparks being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nate Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cruz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Sparks avoids it well.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Cruz shoots in but Sparks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz misses with the combination.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks preventing the sweep.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sparks!
Cruz lands a big shot there that rocks Sparks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparks is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cruz throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cruz working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing strikes here but Sparks is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cruz lands a big elbow.
Sparks is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cruz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sparks is looking to improve his position but Cruz isn't that keen on the idea.
Sparks manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Sparks, under a barage of strikes from Cruz.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Sparks's head.
Sparks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz passes to side control.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparks keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sparks sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Cruz dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sparks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sparks wants it to stay on the feet.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.

Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sparks's half guard.
Sparks gets full guard.
Cruz works over Sparks with some ground and pound from guard.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Sparks has wrist control.
Cruz trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sparks manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Cruz 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.
Cruz seems keen to control Sparks's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks lands a couple of digs.
Cruz pulls Sparks in close to his closed guard and prevents Sparks from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nate Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Sparks's guard.
Sparks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nate Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Sparks pushes Cruz off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sparks darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruz trying to control here.
Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sparks perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sparks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sparks looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is taking a breather. Cruz 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.
Sparks is thwarting Cruz's attempts to control the position.
Sparks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is pulling down on Sparks's head. It's preventing any offense from Sparks, at least for the moment.
Sparks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Sparks controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Sparks isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sparks wants to clinch.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Sparks sprawls well.

Cruz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sparks's guard.
Ricky Sparks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Cruz!
An out of breath and clearly excited Nate Cruz thanked Down Under - Supplements.160Q Video Proof for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).