PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shelton Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wesley Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rice
vs
Sparks

200 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

180 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shelton Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wesley Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice thumps Sparks with a low kick.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown but Rice shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rice connects with a solid leg kick.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rice but Rice pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sparks thuds a left hand into Rice's body.
Sparks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shelton Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wesley Sparks.
Rice looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rice plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Rice moves into the clinch successfully.
Sparks has had enough of the clinch but Rice keeps him there for the moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rice just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sparks's brow.
Sparks tries to pull guard but Rice won't allow it.
Rice on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sparks tries to pull guard but Rice forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Sparks misses.
Sparks leaves Rice with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rice closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sparks circles away.
Sparks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rice.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sparks scores with a jab.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt.
Rice stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparks. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throws a body kick that misses

and Rice counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rice.
Sparks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rice just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rice really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sparks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Sparks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Sparks.
Sparks tries to land knees in the clinch but Rice avoids the damage to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparks stalling the fight.
Rice prevents the takedown attempt.
Sparks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Sparks's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to stall but Rice improves his position.

Rice jumps guard.
Rice throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rice keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.
Sparks stopping the sweep attempt from Rice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks stands and throws Rice's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rice is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sparks has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sparks moves into full mount!
Sparks trying to control but Rice is having none of it.
Sparks controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Poor strikes thrown by Sparks there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wesley Sparks will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rice thumps Sparks with a low kick.
Sparks scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Shelton Rice has been cut.
Rice has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rice there as he acknowledges the shot.

Rice is rocked!
Sparks goes for a double leg but Rice avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rice continues to drive forward.
Oh Rice is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Come on Sparks - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sparks keeps control of Rice as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sparks pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rice jumps guard but Sparks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sparks looking for a takedown.
Sparks managing to block the knees to the body from Rice.
Sparks has Rice pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rice manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shelton Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wesley Sparks.
Rice fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rice is trying to push Sparks away but Sparks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparks has had enough of the clinch but Rice keeps him there for the moment.
Rice on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sparks decides to pull guard.

Sparks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sparks wants to sweep here but Rice controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rice wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
Sparks is breathing heavily.
Sparks 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.
Rice wants to pass the guard but Sparks is keeping the position.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Rice from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Shelton Rice just wasn't active enough.
Rice throws a head kick that half lands.
Rice seems to have got his legs back now.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown but Rice shows good takedown defense.
Sparks slaps away a takedown attempt from Rice, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sparks paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rice moves into range and clinches up with Sparks.
Sparks creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rice is trying to pull guard but Sparks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sparks stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Rice breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rice sprawls well. Rice wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Rice looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sparks is fending him off so far but Rice persists. Nope, Sparks circles away and we're back to standing.
Sparks dives in and grabs Rice's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes down on Sparks's head and hops out.
Sparks leaves Rice with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shelton Rice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rice as he avoids it easily.
Rice looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rice shoots in looking for a takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl out of it but Rice keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sparks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt.
Sparks shoots in for a double leg but Rice sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sparks lands with a nice body punch.

Sparks gets a clinch.
Sparks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rice gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rice keeps control of Sparks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rice pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sparks is trying to drag Rice to the mat but Rice just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sparks is defending well.
Rice lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Rice manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rice manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wesley Sparks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Shelton Rice's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rice stuffs the takedown.
Sparks closes the distance and clinches up with Rice, looking for a takedown. Sparks pushes Rice against the cage but Rice circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sparks dives in and grabs Rice's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes down on Sparks's head and hops out.
Shelton Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wesley Sparks.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rice as he avoids it easily.
Rice lands with a kick to the temple. Sparks shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rice looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sparks is fending him off so far but Rice persists. Nope, Sparks circles away and we're back to standing.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sparks swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rice changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sparks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rice stands up and beckons Sparks to his feet.
Sparks shoots for a takedown but Rice saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rice defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sparks.
Rice shoots in looking for a takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl out of it but Rice keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sparks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Sparks as Rice shoots in.

Sparks darts in and clinches Rice up against the cage.
Rice utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sparks manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice tries to pull guard but Sparks won't allow it.
Rice wants to get back to striking at distance but Sparks won't allow it.
Rice tries to pull guard but Sparks holds him up against the cage and eventually Rice drops back down to his feet.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparks dives in and grabs Rice's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes down on Sparks's head and hops out.
Sparks has a takedown stuffed.

Sparks drives through and clinches with Rice against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks stalling in the clinch but Rice improves position.
Rice fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rice.

Rice breaks the clinch.
Sparks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sparks is looking to clinch but Rice is avoiding it.

Rice has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rice blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sparks goes for a takedown attempt but Rice pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sparks dives in for a single leg takedown but Rice sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rice manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rice pulls Sparks in close to prevent any damage.
Rice is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sparks punching from the bottom.
Shelton Rice has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wesley Sparks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sparks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shelton Rice showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Wesley Sparks!