PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Blackmore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Allen Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackmore's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 16th century greensleeves. 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.

Blackmore
vs
Sparks

180 cm
29
197 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

186 cm
26
196 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ritchie Blackmore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Allen Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks misses with an uppercut.
Blackmore was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Blackmore slaps away a takedown attempt from Sparks, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Sparks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blackmore can't find room to land a body shot as Sparks controls the action.
Sparks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sparks tries a body shot but Blackmore blocks it.
Blackmore drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sparks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sparks wants to clinch up but Blackmore keeps it at a distance.
Sparks fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Blackmore.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackmore throws a nice looking combination but Sparks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sparks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sparks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blackmore digs a good body shot into Sparks's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks shoots for a takedown but Blackmore saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A head kick misses from Sparks.
Blackmore lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Allen Sparks has been cut.
Sparks goes for a double leg but Blackmore avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blackmore continues to drive forward.
Ritchie Blackmore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Allen Sparks.
Blackmore takes a swing at Sparks's ribcage but misses.
Sparks dives in for a single leg takedown but Blackmore sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blackmore scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Blackmore as Sparks shoots in.
Sparks slips a jab from Blackmore.
Blackmore misses with a body shot.
Sparks is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sparks throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sparks tries for a takedown but Blackmore circles away easily
enabling Blackmore to counter with a crisp jab.
Sparks is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sparks has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Blackmore shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sparks napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackmore in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Sparks looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Blackmore turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ritchie Blackmore!
A relieved looking Ritchie Blackmore thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.