PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shifiinity Powel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sparks is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Survivor - Glen. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jimmy Sparks was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Powel
vs
Sparks

173 cm
21
212 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
209 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shifiinity Powel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powel closes the distance and clinches.
Sparks prevents a takedown attempt there.
Powel looking for a takedown.
Powel tries for a takedown but Sparks manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shifiinity Powel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sparks fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sparks throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Powel rushes Sparks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sparks working hard to break the clinch.
Sparks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sparks turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Powel tries to improve position but can't.
Sparks working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Powel sneaks back into half guard.
Powel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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

Powel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sparks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Powel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Powel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Powel keeps moving.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.

Powel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sparks defends well.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Powel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sparks chips away with some ground and pound.
Sparks passes into half guard.
Sparks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Powel taking some punishment here, with Sparks in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powel taking some punishment here, with Sparks in his half guard.
Sparks wants to control but Powel is keeping him busy.
Sparks thows a huge punch but Powel dodges it nicely.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Powel looking for submissions off his back.
Powel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sparks.
Powel wants to get back to full guard.
Sparks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Powel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sparks.
Powel gets back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Powel has closed the distance and engaged Sparks in a clinch.
Sparks stops a takedown attempt from Powel.

Powel tightens his grip and picks Sparks up, before dumping him to the ground. Sparks manages to land in guard.
Powel is breathing heavily.
Sparks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powel.

Sparks manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks with a hook.
Powel tries to clinch but Sparks moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sparks.
Sparks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Shifiinity Powel has been cut.

Powel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sparks to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparks throwing strikes but missing.
Sparks works over Powel with some ground and pound from guard.
Powel is trying to control the position but Sparks postures up.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Powel keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Powel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sparks slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sparks throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powel tries to buck Sparks off but Sparks is having none of it.
Sparks scores with punches from side control.
Powel can't do much from the bottom here.
Sparks landing a few strikes.
Powel wants to control but Sparks postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Sparks seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks working the body and head with strikes.
Sparks landing strikes.
Sparks working away.
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 Shifiinity Powel's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Powel takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Powel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sparks defends it nicely.
Sparks throws a big shot that misses.
Sparks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sparks will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Powel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Powel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sparks lands a jab to the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sparks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A good leg kick by Sparks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Powel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sparks finds it's way round the side to connect with Powel's head.

Powel is rocked!
Shifiinity Powel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparks throws a lazy right hand but Powel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Powel tries to clinch there but Sparks circles away.
Sparks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Powel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sparks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Powel.

Powel seems to be working for a kimura but Sparks defends the submission attempt.
Sparks is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimmy Sparks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powel is keen to just control but Sparks is a slippery customer.
Powel throws a strike but Sparks avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Powel stops Sparks from standing up.
Powel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sparks throws a looping overhand right but Powel ducks down to avoid it.
Powel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sparks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sparks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Powel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jimmy Sparks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Powel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Powel wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sparks has a takedown stuffed.
Shifiinity Powel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Sparks.
Powel tries to clinch up.
Sparks is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Powel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Powel lands an elbow.

Powel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sparks has escaped the position, nice work there.
Powel working the strikes but Sparks uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Powel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sparks manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Powel takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sparks.
A cross from Sparks lands.
Sparks feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Powel's calf.
Sparks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sparks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Powel circles away quickly and effectively.
Powel slips a jab from Sparks.
Sparks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Powel pinned against the cage. Powel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sparks shoots in but no luck this time.

Powel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Powel lands in his opponent's guard.
Powel thows a big elbow that misses.
Powel is in close to Sparks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Powel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sparks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Powel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Powel looking to sit in guard and control but Sparks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Powel 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.
Sparks trying to control but Powel is working from the bottom.
Sparks throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Powel is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sparks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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 Shifiinity Powel'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sparks tries for a takedown but Powel circles away easily

and Powel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Powel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sparks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Powel tries for a takedown but Sparks manages to get underhooks.
Sparks is pressed up against the cage. Powel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sparks down to the mat. Sparks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shifiinity Powel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Sparks has one foot on Powel's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sparks cracks Powel with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Sparks.
Sparks lands a jab.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Powel avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparks fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Powel.
Sparks finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sparks lands the left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Sparks. That snapped Powel's head back.
Sparks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Powel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks throws a looping overhand right but Powel ducks down to avoid it.
Powel shoots for a takedown but Sparks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Sparks shoots in and bounces Powel off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sparks stands up over Powel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Powel 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 chips away with some ground and pound.
Powel 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.
Sparks works over Powel with some ground and pound from guard.
Sparks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Powel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sparks throwing strikes but missing.

Sparks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Powel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sparks has managed to get both his arms back between Powel's legs - danger averted.
Sparks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sparks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Powel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Powel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Powel is keeping the position.

Powel is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Powel is keeping the position.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Powel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Powel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheers as Sparks lands an impressive looking overhand right. Powel doesn't seem phased though.
Sparks connects with a solid leg kick.
Powel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Sparks.
Sparks is looking to land body kicks.

Powel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sparks to the mat! Sparks manages to get full guard.
Sparks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Powel throws a strike but Sparks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Powel is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.
Powel keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jimmy Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sparks gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Powel to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Powel throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Powel throwing strikes from guard but Sparks blocks nicely.
Powel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jimmy Sparks.
I've got Sparks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

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