PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dominik Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santos
vs
Sparks

191 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominik Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks stuffs the takedown.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sparks as he jumps to the side.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but Sparks shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominik Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Dominik Santos has been cut.

Sparks darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sparks seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Santos looking for submissions off his back.
Sparks tries to stand but can't do so whilst Santos controls his leg.
Sparks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Santos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Santos looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Sparks seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sparks jumps into side control!

Sparks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Santos to his feet.
Sparks lands a left and a right that sends Santos crashing to the canvas! Sparks dives into mount looking to finish!
Santos is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sparks raining down shots from the mount!
Sparks connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sparks looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sparks with shots to the head and body - Santos looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sparks lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Santos is in a horrible position here. Sparks smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sparks scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Santos?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks scoring with strikes but Santos is staying in there.
Santos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sparks breaks from Santos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Santos sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Sparks working Santos over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparks working Santos over with strikes.

Sparks decides to stand and escape the position.
Jimmy Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Santos with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sparks counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santos!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sparks is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Santos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Santos can't escape the position.
Santos takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Santos is trying to escape the mount.
Sparks postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santos looks a forlorn figure.
Santos tries to reverse the position but Sparks maintains control.
Santos regains half guard.
Santos gets back to full guard.

Santos had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sparks is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Santos Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sparks's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos doesn't have the hooks in and Sparks manages to turn into his guard.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Santos working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Sparks wants to stand but Santos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sparks stopping the sweep attempt from Santos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Sparks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dominik Santos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santos misses with a takedown

and Sparks counters with a single leg into guard. Santos didn't expect that.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sparks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sparks tries to stand but Santos is controlling from the bottom.

Sparks stands up and waves to Santos to follow him.
Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sparks counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sparks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Santos working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sparks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Sparks counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominik Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparks is nestled in close to Santos, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sparks looking to pass the guard.

Sparks gets to his feet - Santos follows without any prompting.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sparks.
Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sparks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.

Santos has an active guard here but Sparks has managed to pass into half guard.
Santos is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sparks scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jimmy Sparks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.
Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sparks preventing the sweep.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
Sparks trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Santos looking for a guillotine here but Sparks defends easily.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.
Santos wants to sweep here but Sparks controlling him for the moment.

Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sparks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sparks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sparks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sparks tries to stand but Santos is controlling from the bottom.
Sparks is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santos tries for a takedown but Sparks circles away easily
and Sparks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Santos shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Sparks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dominik Santos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sparks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sparks counters with a left to the body.
Sparks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Sparks.
Santos fails with the takedown

and Sparks counters with a shoot takedown. Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos is keeping the position for now.
Sparks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Santos is proving hard to escape from.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.

Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sparks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sparks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Santos, up you get!
Santos takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos misses with a takedown attempt

and Sparks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominik Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos is staying active underneath Sparks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sparks passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Santos is trying to get back to full guard.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Santos is defending well.

Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sparks passes to side control.
Sparks trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sparks wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sparks stalks Santos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Santos's face. Santos staggers backwards, shaken.
Santos with a poor takedown

and Sparks counters with a single leg into guard. Santos didn't expect that.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.

Sparks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Santos, up you get!
A punch combination from Sparks misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos misses with a takedown

and Sparks counters with a shoot takedown. Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Santos working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.

Sparks showing good submission defense here.
Dominik Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santos working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Jimmy Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Sparks manages to stand up with Santos still on his back. Eventually Santos drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Sparks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sparks has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Sparks!