PBP Commentary

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

Sparks
vs
Papadopoulos

200 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
19
231 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lucius Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lavrentis Papadopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Papadopoulos moves into the clinch successfully.
Papadopoulos is trying to break free.
Sparks tries to pull guard but Papadopoulos won't allow it.
Sparks lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Papadopoulos breaks the clinch.
Papadopoulos fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Sparks misses the target.
Sparks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Papadopoulos's waist but Papadopoulos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparks off to one side.
Papadopoulos misses with a low kick.
It looked like Sparks wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Papadopoulos.
Sparks fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucius Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Papadopoulos clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sparks breaks from the clinch.

Papadopoulos has Sparks up against the cage in a clinch.
Papadopoulos working hard to break the clinch.
Sparks lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Papadopoulos is trying to drag Sparks to the mat but Sparks just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sparks holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Papadopoulos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sparks walks away with a smile on his face. Papadopoulos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sparks.
Papadopoulos fails with the takedown.
Sparks tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Papadopoulos manages to circle out of the way.
Sparks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Papadopoulos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Sparks has one foot on Papadopoulos's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos shoots in but no luck this time.
Papadopoulos misses with a takedown
and Papadopoulos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Papadopoulos slaps away a takedown attempt from Sparks, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Papadopoulos drives through and clinches with Sparks against the cage.
Sparks can't get the takedown.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Papadopoulos successfully pulls guard.
Sparks is fighting to break Papadopoulos's control of his arms but Papadopoulos is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sparks throws a strike but Papadopoulos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Papadopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Papadopoulos pushes down on Sparks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sparks is looking for a sweep. Papadopoulos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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 Lucius Sparks will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sparks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Papadopoulos throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Sparks to counter with a crisp jab.
Papadopoulos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Papadopoulos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sparks avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Papadopoulos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is pushing Sparks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Papadopoulos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sparks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sparks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Papadopoulos prevents it.

Papadopoulos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Papadopoulos lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papadopoulos makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sparks throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Sparks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Papadopoulos is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Papadopoulos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sparks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Papadopoulos on the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sparks looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Papadopoulos puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Papadopoulos takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Papadopoulos wants to control but Sparks is keeping him busy.
Sparks is looking for a sweep. Papadopoulos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Papadopoulos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Papadopoulos frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Papadopoulos lands with some strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Papadopoulos lands with some strikes.
Lavrentis Papadopoulos has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos lands a heavy elbow.
Papadopoulos controlling the pace for now.
Sparks gets back to half guard.
Papadopoulos looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sparks tries to roll over but Papadopoulos keeps him under control.
Papadopoulos working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Papadopoulos wants to work for an arm triangle but Sparks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Papadopoulos connects with a nice short shot to Sparks's temple.
Papadopoulos is taking a breather. Sparks 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.

Papadopoulos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Papadopoulos connects with a nice short shot to Sparks's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papadopoulos trying to control the action but Sparks is working from the bottom.

Sparks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Papadopoulos pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lavrentis Papadopoulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sparks tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Papadopoulos defends well and Sparks ends up having to push Papadopoulos into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Papadopoulos instigates a clinch.
Sparks misses with a knee to the head.
Sparks can't find room to land a body shot as Papadopoulos controls the action.

Sparks breaks the clinch.
Papadopoulos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sparks seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sparks as he jumps to the side.
Papadopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadopoulos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sparks is looking to counter the offense by Papadopoulos and move into the clinch.

Sparks drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Papadopoulos is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sparks presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Papadopoulos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sparks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Papadopoulos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucius Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparks prevents a takedown attempt there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos drags the fight down to the ground.

Papadopoulos has his foot on Sparks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sparks works his way back into a safe position though.
Papadopoulos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Papadopoulos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sparks throws a strike but Papadopoulos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sparks throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Papadopoulos escapes and throws Sparks's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos trying to control the action but Sparks is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos cracks Sparks with a big elbow.
Sparks tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Papadopoulos presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Papadopoulos is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Papadopoulos fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sparks is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos controlling from mount.
Papadopoulos raining down shots from the mount!
Sparks takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Papadopoulos get's back to his feet.

Papadopoulos gets the takedown into side control.
Sparks is looking to get back to his feet here but Papadopoulos is keeping cool and he's managed to take Sparks's back.
I would not like to be Sparks right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is hanging on to Sparks's back as he tries to escape.
Papadopoulos lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Sparks hold on?!

Papadopoulos has managed to slip his arm under Sparks's chin. This could be all over... yep, Sparks is tapping out! Submission win for Papadopoulos.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lavrentis Papadopoulos!