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 has chosen Survivor - Glen as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jimmy Sparks told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Powel
vs
Sparks

173 cm
22
212 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

190 cm
26
209 lbs
11 - 9 - 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 7 - 7 - 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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powel is defended easily by Sparks.
A leg kick checked by Powel.
Powel shoots in looking for a takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl out of it but Powel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sparks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Powel scores a takedown into full mount!
Sparks is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Powel is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sparks has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sparks!

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.
Powel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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 scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sparks throws a big right hand that misses.
Powel wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Powel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sparks scoring with some ground and pound.
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sparks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sparks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Powel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sparks defends it easily.
Sparks is looking to work some ground and pound but Powel has wrist control.
Sparks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sparks throws a big right hand that misses.
Sparks scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sparks scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sparks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

Powel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sparks is aware though and is defending well.
Powel looking for a sweep. Not yet Powel, not yet.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sparks cracks Powel with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powel keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
Sparks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Powel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sparks thows a big elbow that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Powel shoots for a double leg takedown but Sparks sprawls well. He's pushed Powel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shifiinity Powel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Powel clinches.
Powel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sparks fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Powel is breathing heavily.
Sparks shoots and misses

and Powel counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sparks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powel is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Powel has gone for a leg lock! Sparks slips out almost immediately though and dives into Powel's guard.
Powel keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.
Sparks scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
A nice elbow there by Powel.
Sparks holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Powel tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Powel throws some wild stikes that Sparks manages to avoid easily.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Powel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sparks has worked his arm free - good work by Sparks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powel tries to score with some ground and pound. Sparks controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Powel.

Powel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sparks is pushing Powel's head away, looking to escape. Powel manages to hold on to the position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Powel swings around for an armbar but Sparks sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Powel's guard.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sparks trying to control but Powel is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shifiinity Powel dominated that round.
That's time! Powel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sparks catches Powel with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Powel tries to score with a low kick but Sparks moves his leg out of the way.
Danga de danga de dang - Sparks scores with a four punch combination!
Sparks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sparks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Powel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Sparks.
Powel jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Sparks looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Powel!

Sparks goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Powel is on top in guard.
Sparks wants to stand and escape but Powel is having none of it.

Sparks uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sparks shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Powel is looking to improve his position.
Sparks is breathing heavily.
Powel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Powel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sparks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sparks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Powel trying to strike off his back.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Powel looking for a sweep. Not yet Powel, not yet.
Sparks thows a big elbow that misses.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sparks is looking to work some ground and pound but Powel has wrist control.
Powel keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Powel moves into range and clinches up with Sparks.
Powel can't get the takedown.
Sparks can't break the clinch.
Sparks gets underhooks to prevent Powel's takedown attempt.

Powel has hold of one of Sparks's legs. Sparks is fighting the takedown attempt but Powel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Shifiinity Powel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sparks is looking to stand up but Powel isn't so interested in that idea.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sparks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Sparks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sparks tries to free his leg and advance position but Powel is retaining full guard.
Powel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sparks landing with the ground and pound.
Sparks postures up and lands a big shot to Powel's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Powel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.

Sparks is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Powel has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Sparks is looking to defend but Powel has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Sparks! Powel pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Sparks taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Shifiinity Powel!