PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donnie Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Sparks acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Darko
vs
Sparks

188 cm
25
201 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Donnie Darko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Sparks!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks moves out of range of the strikes.
Sparks shoots in looking for a takedown. Darko tries to sprawl out of it but Sparks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Darko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A right-left combo lands from Sparks.
Darko throws out a powerful jab.
Darko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sparks eats them both and turns towards Darko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Darko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sparks connects with a high kick.

It looks like Donnie Darko has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Darko as he avoids it easily.
Darko cracks Sparks with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sparks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sparks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko leaves Sparks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Donnie Darko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Sparks.
Darko stuffs the takedown.
A telegraphed right hand from Darko misses the target.
Sparks takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sparks tries to bum rush Darko with a series of wild strikes but Darko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sparks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Darko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sparks somewhat.
Darko throws an overhand right that lands on Sparks's shoulder, as Sparks tries to avoid the shot.
Darko blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks missing with a left hand there. Darko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Donnie Darko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sparks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Darko is fending him off so far but Sparks persists. Nope, Darko circles away and we're back to standing.
Sparks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sparks tries to clinch
enabling Darko to counter with a crisp jab.
Sparks wants to clinch
and Sparks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Darko keeps the fight on the outside.
Sparks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Darko.
Sparks closes the distance but Darko moves to the side
and Darko counters with a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks slips a jab from Darko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko scores with a body shot.
Sparks slips a jab from Darko.
Sparks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Darko's waist but Darko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparks off to one side.
Darren Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sparks moves out of range as Darko strikes.
Darko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Darko misses with a wild combination.

Sparks looking to score a takedown here. Darko is defending well but Sparks drives through and ends up in Darko's guard.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Darko is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko wants to get back to his feet but Sparks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Darko is keeping the position.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Darko is keeping the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Darko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Sparks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Donnie Darko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Darko stuffs the takedown.
Sparks looks to land a combination but Darko avoids it well.
Sparks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Darko counters with a one-two to the body.

Sparks dives in and scores a takedown into Darko's guard.
Sparks works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sparks tries to pass to full mount but Darko defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparks prevents Darko from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks tries to stand but can't do so whilst Darko controls his leg.
Darko wants to get back to his feet.
Sparks trying to pass the guard but Darko defending well.

Sparks is looking for a kimura but Darko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sparks to get the leverage.

Sparks is working for a submission of some sort.
Sparks is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.

Sparks has gone for a leg lock! Darko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sparks's guard.

Sparks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sparks is working an open guard so Darko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Darko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sparks slips a jab from Darko.
Sparks shoots in looking for a takedown but Darko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sparks's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Darko connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sparks's hands.
Sparks wants to clinch up but Darko keeps it at a distance.
Sparks takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sparks slips a jab and a cross from Darko.
Sparks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Darko's waist but Darko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparks off to one side.
Donnie Darko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Sparks.
Darko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Darko with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks fails with a takedown attempt.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Donnie Darko is winning the standup battle so far.
Sparks is breathing heavily.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Darko moves out of range.
Sparks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Darko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sparks shoots for a takedown but Darko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Darko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sparks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Darko defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darren Sparks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Donnie Darko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Darko thuds a left hand into Sparks's body.
A slow jab from Sparks misses its intended target.
Darko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sparks momentarily.
Donnie Darko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparks throws the kick towards the body but Darko avoids it.
Sparks tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick from Sparks lands but Darko takes it in his stride.
Darko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Sparks moves into the clinch.
Sparks goes for a takedown attempt but Darko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sparks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Darko avoids the head kick by Sparks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sparks.
Darko takes a swing at Sparks's ribcage but misses.
Darko misses with the combination.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
Darko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Sparks. Those never looked like landing.
Sparks throws a lazy right hand but Darko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sparks shoots for a takedown but Darko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Donnie Darko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Sparks.
Sparks shoots and misses
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sparks walks into a left hand.
Darko leaves Sparks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Darko throws a shot to the body.
Sparks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Darko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks tries to close the distance and clinch but Darko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sparks misses with a takedown
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sparks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Darko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sparks under the eye.

Sparks is rocked!
Darko circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Sparks to the canvas! Sparks doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Darko keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Donnie Darko!