PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghost Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghost Emelianenko had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 207.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Ghost Emelianenko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jimmy Sparks's chin.

Emelianenko
vs
Sparks

195 cm
22
212 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
209 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

FNF Energy (Weekend Energy Sale!!!)
ACME-UCF NUTRITION

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ghost Emelianenko !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Ghost Emelianenko has been cut.
Emelianenko throws a right hand that Sparks ducks under and follows up with a left that Sparks also avoids with ease.
Sparks looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Sparks as Emelianenko shoots in.
Emelianenko shoots in for a double leg but Sparks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.

Sparks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sparks is trying to control. Emelianenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emelianenko . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Emelianenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sparks.
Sparks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sparks trying to pass the guard but Emelianenko defending well.
Sparks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sparks slows the pace down in half guard.
Sparks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Emelianenko defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A combination from Sparks does no damage.
A combination from Sparks does no damage.
Sparks misses with a wild combination.
Emelianenko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sparks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ghost Emelianenko . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparks dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Emelianenko . That did some damage!
Sparks scores with a spinning back kick!
Sparks goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sparks throws a right and a left that Emelianenko avoids nicely.
Sparks misses with a wild combination.
Sparks lands a jab to the nose.

Ghost Emelianenko 's cut is getting worse.
Sparks looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
Sparks feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Emelianenko 's calf.
Emelianenko with a poor takedown
and Sparks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown

and Sparks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks drops an elbow to the side of Emelianenko 's head.
Sparks is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sparks trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Sparks stops Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko tries to get to full guard but Sparks has control of the leg.
Sparks seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sparks is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sparks sizes up Emelianenko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A good leg kick by Sparks.
Sparks misses with a wild combination.
Sparks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sparks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sparks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Emelianenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparks throws a combination. Emelianenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sparks throws a right and a left that Emelianenko avoids nicely.
Emelianenko dodges the punch combination from Sparks.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparks decides to stand back up.
Sparks fails to land with a series of punches.
Emelianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sparks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sparks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sparks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emelianenko .
Emelianenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sparks counters with a nice low kick that buckles Emelianenko 's knee momentarily.
Emelianenko with a poor takedown

and Sparks counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emelianenko keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Emelianenko 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 throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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 Ghost Emelianenko 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Emelianenko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sparks can pounce on him.
Jimmy Sparks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Emelianenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sparks.
Sparks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Emelianenko shoots and misses
and Sparks counters with a nice body shot.
Sparks swinging wilding here.
Sparks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sparks misses with the combination.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Emelianenko .
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Sparks moves out of range.
Sparks lands a nice shot to the body.
Sparks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Sparks circles away easily
and Sparks counters with a series of strikes. Emelianenko will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ghost Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Emelianenko avoids them all with ease.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks moves out of range of the body kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sparks!
Emelianenko throws a combination that misses
and Sparks counters with a two punch combo.
Sparks misses with a wild combination.
Emelianenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sparks counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ghost Emelianenko . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sparks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sparks controls from within his opponent's guard.

Emelianenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.

Emelianenko working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Sparks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Emelianenko looking for subs off his back but Sparks has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko looks like he's trying to stand up.

Emelianenko looking for subs from the bottom but Sparks mounts him!
Emelianenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sparks landing shots from mount.
Sparks scoring with strikes but Emelianenko is staying in there.
Sparks tries to control but Emelianenko wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by Sparks.
Sparks scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Emelianenko is bucking up trying to escape but Sparks cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Sparks has a good base and remains in mount.
Sparks working the ground and pound effectively.

Ghost Emelianenko 's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Jimmy Sparks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sparks raining down shots from the mount!

Jeez, Ghost Emelianenko 's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ghost Emelianenko 's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jimmy Sparks!