PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Bastos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Bastos is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Sparks
vs
Bastos

189 cm
22
220 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

191 cm
25
222 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zack Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Bastos!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bastos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bastos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bastos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bastos avoids the body shot from Sparks.

Bastos moves into the clinch.

Sparks breaks from the clinch.
Sparks changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bastos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bastos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sparks fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bastos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sparks.
Bastos throws out a loose jab but Sparks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sparks misses with an uppercut. Bastos saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastos fails with a takedown attempt.
Zack Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Bastos.
Sparks looks to land a combination but Bastos avoids it well.
Sparks just misses with a punch to the body.
Bastos takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sparks jabs Bastos right on the nose. Bastos blinks but takes it well.
Bastos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sparks is fending him off so far but Bastos persists. Nope, Sparks circles away and we're back to standing.
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bastos ducks right into an uppercut from Sparks.
Sparks lands with an uppercut that bounces Bastos off the ropes and back into range.
Sparks swings for the body but Bastos moves out of range.
Sparks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bastos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
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!
Sparks misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sparks misses the jab.
Sparks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bastos.
Sparks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bastos.
Bastos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bastos is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sparks is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Bastos.
A slow jab from Bastos misses its intended target.
Bastos wants to clinch.
Bastos sizes up Sparks with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bastos throws a hook to the side of Sparks's head but Sparks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bastos throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bastos momentarily.
Sparks throws a body punch but Bastos moves out of range.
Sparks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bastos moves away.
Bastos is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bastos.
Bastos walks into a jab.
A combination from Sparks does no damage.
Zack Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sparks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bastos circles away quickly and effectively.
Sparks scores with a nice right hand.

Bastos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bastos wants to control but Sparks is keeping him busy.
Sparks misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastos trying to control the action but Sparks is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sparks takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sparks throws a few strikes from the bottom but Bastos takes advantage and mounts!
Bastos working the ground and pound effectively.
Bastos controlling from mount.
Bastos wants to control the pace but Sparks is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by Bastos.
Sparks is trying to stand up.
Sparks is desperately trying to improve his position but Bastos has a good base and remains in mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bastos putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bastos blocks Sparks's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bastos landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.
Bastos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bastos with a couple of short strikes.

Sparks is rocked!
Bastos lands a big elbow - Sparks is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Sparks is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Rafael Bastos!