PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luca Sparazzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sparazzo's entrance music is MegaDeth- This Day We FIGHT!. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sparazzo
vs
Barbosa

178 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
149 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luca Sparazzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hector Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa slips a jab and a cross from Sparazzo.

Barbosa tries to keep at a distance but Sparazzo has taken the fight into the clinch.

Barbosa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sparazzo uses from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sparazzo won't allow Barbosa to sweep him here.
Sparazzo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sparazzo prevents Barbosa from getting back to his feet.
Sparazzo is pushing down on Barbosa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Barbosa is fighting to maintain full guard but Sparazzo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barbosa trying to control here.
Sparazzo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Barbosa pushes Sparazzo off and gets back to his feet.
Sparazzo lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Hector Barbosa has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparazzo misses with a wild body shot.
Sparazzo cracks Barbosa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Barbosa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sparazzo lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparazzo tries for a takedown. No joy.

Sparazzo breaks the clinch.

Barbosa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sparazzo did well to prevent Barbosa getting side control.
Sparazzo is staying active underneath Barbosa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sparazzo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Barbosa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sparazzo keeping moving, preventing Barbosa from controlling successfully.
Sparazzo 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.
Sparazzo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sparazzo wants to stand but Barbosa is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hector Barbosa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sparazzo shoots in for a double leg but Barbosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sparazzo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Barbosa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sparazzo tries to break free but Barbosa pushes him back against the cage.
Barbosa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sparazzo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sparazzo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barbosa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luca Sparazzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sparazzo scores with a nice strike.
Nice takedown defense from Sparazzo. No joy for Barbosa on that attempt.
Sparazzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barbosa staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparazzo tries to clinch up but Barbosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sparazzo sprawls well. Sparazzo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barbosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sparazzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbosa dodges the punch combination from Sparazzo.
Barbosa lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sparazzo throws a shot to the body.
Barbosa lands a really nice looking cross but Sparazzo seems unphased.
Sparazzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sparazzo is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparazzo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Barbosa counters with a single leg into guard. Sparazzo didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barbosa won't allow Sparazzo to get back to his feet.
Barbosa trying to control but Sparazzo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa wants to stand but Sparazzo is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Barbosa stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparazzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sparazzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hector Barbosa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hector Barbosa's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sparazzo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sparazzo wants it to stay on the feet.
Barbosa misses with a series of wild punches.
Sparazzo loads up on a big right hand but Barbosa slips the punch.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.

Barbosa gets tackled into the cage by Sparazzo. Sparazzo maintains the clinch.
Barbosa is trying to break the clinch but Sparazzo has him pressed against the cage.
Sparazzo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barbosas head.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot lands for Sparazzo.
No joy there for Sparazzo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sparazzo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barbosa.
Sparazzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown but Sparazzo shows good takedown defense.
Luca Sparazzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hector Barbosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Luca Sparazzo is winning the standup battle so far.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Sparazzo takes the fight into the clinch.
Sparazzo wants to get back to striking at distance but Barbosa won't allow it.

Sparazzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparazzo scores with a jab.
Sparazzo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sparazzo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sparazzo wants it to stay on the feet.
Luca Sparazzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparazzo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barbosa slips a jab from Sparazzo.
Sparazzo dives in and grabs Barbosa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barbosa pushes down on Sparazzo's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbosa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barbosa.
A telegraphed right hand from Sparazzo misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa shoots and misses
and Sparazzo counters with a left and a right that stings Barbosa.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barbosa drives through and clinches with Sparazzo against the cage.

Barbosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sparazzo throws a poor cross that misses
and Sparazzo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sparazzo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barbosa throws a nice head kick!
Barbosa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Barbosa moves into the clinch successfully.
Sparazzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barbosa fails to pull guard.
Barbosa keeps control of Sparazzo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sparazzo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Barbosa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Barbosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparazzo looks to land a combination but Barbosa avoids it well.
Sparazzo throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Barbosa scores with a kick to the body.

Barbosa rushes Sparazzo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sparazzo wants to break the clinch but can't.

Barbosa manages to break the clinch.
Sparazzo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbosa throws out the jab.

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

Barbosa is trying to get an arm triangle but Sparazzo is defending well.
Sparazzo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparazzo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barbosa's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barbosa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sparazzo is just riding it out for now. Barbosa eventually gives up the hold.
Barbosa is looking to take a break and control but Sparazzo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hector Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hector Barbosa's cut.
That's time! Sparazzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Barbosa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sparazzo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sparazzo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Sparazzo has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Barbosa clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sparazzo wants to control the position but Barbosa frees himself and scrambles - Sparazzo manages to regain control in side control.
Barbosa is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sparazzo is controlling him well.
Sparazzo is looking to take a break and control but Barbosa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sparazzo working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sparazzo cracks Barbosa with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Barbosa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Barbosa's face as Sparazzo controls the position.

Sparazzo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa is trying to control Sparazzo's posture but Sparazzo avoids it.
Sparazzo wants to control but Barbosa is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparazzo just content to control the position.
Barbosa is trying to control Sparazzo's posture but Sparazzo avoids it.
Hector Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barbosa gets back to half guard.
Barbosa is staying active underneath Sparazzo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sparazzo not doing much here.

Luca Sparazzo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Barbosa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sparazzo under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barbosa shoots in and drives through. Sparazzo sprawls well.
Sparazzo moves away from the strike by Barbosa.

Barbosa clinches.
Sparazzo is trying to break free.
Sparazzo has had enough of the clinch but Barbosa keeps him there for the moment.
Sparazzo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sparazzo tries to circle away but Barbosa has him pinned against the cage.

Sparazzo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbosa lands a head kick!

Barbosa drives through and clinches with Sparazzo against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparazzo misses with some punches.
Barbosa takes a shot to the head.

Barbosa breaks from the clinch.
Barbosa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barbosa misses with a two punch combination.
Sparazzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sparazzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sparazzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barbosa throws a sloppy head kick and Sparazzo moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sparazzo misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barbosa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sparazzo pinned against the cage. Sparazzo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Luca Sparazzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hector Barbosa.
Barbosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Luca Sparazzo.
I think Barbosa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight as a draw!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Hector Barbosa!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Hector Barbosa!

Hector Barbosa wins by majority decision!