PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Sparr (ranked 2607 p4p, 4619 weight class) and Billy Marques (ranked 336 p4p, 541 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sparr might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The crowd seem to be enjoying Marques's choice of entrance music: Raining Blood. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sparr
vs
Marques

190 cm
28
189
2 - 4 - 0

191 cm
42
193
16 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyler Sparr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Marques!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marques connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sparr's hands.
Sparr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marques was well out of range. Poor timing from Sparr.
Sparr loads up on a big right hand but Marques slips the punch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Marques! But no joy.
Marques lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparr circles away quickly and effectively.
Marques listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Marques closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sparr tries to improve position but can't.
Sparr is working hard here to advance position.
Sparr manages to work his way to half guard, despite Marques's best efforts.

Marques seems to be working for a kimura but Sparr defends the submission attempt.
Sparr is looking for a sweep. Marques is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparr lands with a few short shots to the body.

Sparr is defending against the submission attempts here by Marques.
We've been hearing good reports from Sparr's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Sparr is looking to improve his position.

Sparr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marques pulls his head out easily.

Marques seems to be looking for submissions.
Marques is trying to control. Sparr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marques controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sparr is looking for a sweep. Marques is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sparr is looking to control Marques's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sparr avoid being mounted?
Marques wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparr keeps working.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Marques in particular looking to stall.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sparr throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marques has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Marques lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sparr backs up against the cage.

Marques shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sparr napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sparr throws a few strikes from the bottom but Marques takes advantage and mounts!
Marques controlling from mount.
Sparr sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparr is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marques's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marques's back!
Marques avoids the strikes from Sparr.

Marques is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sparr gets his way!
Sparr thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Marques covering up well and avoiding damage.
Marques trying to get back to his feet but Sparr is in full control for now.
Sparr is landing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marques just trying to survive but Sparr is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Marques showing good submission defense here.
Sparr has the hooks in. Marques is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Sparr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sparr lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Sparr.
Can Marques hold on?! Sparr is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparr not allowing Marques to control his hands.
Marques can't escape the position.
Sparr missing with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Billy Marques will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sparr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sparr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sparr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marques knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marques avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sparr.

Sparr seems to be working for a kimura but Marques defends the submission attempt.
Sparr passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Marques!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparr lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques is squirming around, avoiding Sparr's attempts to control the action.
Marques is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Sparr in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sparr misses with a head shot.

Sparr working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Marques is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Marques is working to get back to half guard.
Sparr looking to ground and pound but Marques is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sparr goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Marques turns into him and now he's in Sparr's guard.
Sparr keeping moving, preventing Marques from controlling successfully.

Sparr has his foot on Marques's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marques works his way back into a safe position though.
Sparr looking to control.
Sparr wants to sweep but no luck.
Marques seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sparr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marques manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparr working some strikes from top position.

Sparr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marques is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marques has escaped and now he's on top!

Marques controlling from the top position.

Sparr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marques trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marques won't allow Sparr to sweep him here.
Sparr wants to improve his position but instead Marques has moved into half guard.
Sparr wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparr gets full guard.
Marques throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sparr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sparr keeping moving, preventing Marques from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sparr working a defensive guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marques's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Sparr dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sparr throws a lazy right hand but Marques sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sparr throws a sloppy head kick
and Marques cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sparr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sparr throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sparr tries for a takedown but Marques sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Marques shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sparr is trying to defend but Marques finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marques takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sparr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sparr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marques trying to control but Sparr is working from the bottom.
Marques trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques won't allow Sparr to sweep him here.

Sparr is looking for a triangle but Marques pushes his legs off easily.

Sparr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marques doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marques manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sparr is on top in guard.

Sparr trying to control the position from guard on top but Marques is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tyler Sparr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Marques throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sparr stopping the sweep attempt from Marques.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marques wants to improve his position but instead Sparr has moved into half guard.
Sparr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marques trying to hold on to Sparr's head to control him but Sparr postures up.
Sparr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marques defending well though.
Sparr scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sparr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marques keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marques regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sparr.
Sparr working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Marques's head.
Sparr works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Marques is positioning himself well to prevent Sparr advancing to mount.
Sparr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sparr is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marques is just riding it out for now. Sparr eventually gives up the hold.
Sparr landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparr thows a huge punch but Marques dodges it nicely.
Marques tries to get to full guard but Sparr has control of the leg.
Sparr is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Marques in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marques regains half guard.
Marques is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Sparr showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sparr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Sparr!
Tyler Sparr thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Billy Marques spoke after the fight, saying 'I would like to apologize to my fans for what they witnessed here tonight. I am A LOT better than what you all seen here, trust me, the next time I step inside this octagon, you will witness something you've never seen before. MARK MY WORDS!'.