PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rullo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Symphony X - The Serpent's Kiss blaring out of the sound system. Sparks is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Survivor - Glen. Jimmy Sparks has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gracie
vs
Sparks

189 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
209 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rullo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks misses with a hook.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Sparks.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Sparks is defending well.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Sparks won't allow it.
Gracie stops Sparks from getting back to his feet.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sparks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Sparks is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sparks is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Sparks defends it.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sparks defending well though.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sparks defends it well.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Sparks is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie prevents Sparks from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sparks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sparks has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sparks is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sparks's waist but Sparks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sparks scores with a shot to the body.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Sparks. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rullo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparks misses with a low kick.
Sparks throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie shoots in but Sparks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rullo Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sparks looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.

Gracie gets the takedown into side control.
Sparks is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sparks has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sparks is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gracie throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Sparks works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sparks is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie prevents Sparks from standing back up.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Sparks is working away.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Sparks is defending it quite comfortably.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sparks misses the jab.
Some wild striking there from Sparks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie wants to control but Sparks is keeping him busy.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sparks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sparks throws Gracie to one side and escapes!
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sparks as he jumps to the side.
Jimmy Sparks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rullo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sparks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sparks circles away.
Sparks tries to score with a low kick but Gracie moves his leg out of the way.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Sparks throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Sparks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sparks circles away.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Rullo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
A head kick misses from Sparks.
Sparks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Sparks shows good takedown defense.
Sparks misses with a straight right.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sparks throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sparks circles away.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Sparks lands a with a good body shot.
Gracie slips a straight right by Sparks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rullo Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Sparks lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Rullo Gracie has been cut.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Sparks.
Sparks scores with a jab to the head.
Sparks moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sparks throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sparks lands a jab to the nose.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sparks cracks Gracie with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Sparks has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Gracie to stand back up!

Gracie is rocked!
Sparks throws a quick head kick that knocks Gracie silly! This fight is all over! What a finish! Sparks is up on the cage, taking in the applause from the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Jimmy Sparks!