PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Dick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mandango Sparmaqua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Dick
vs
Sparmaqua

182 cm
27
217 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

200 cm
26
220 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter striker
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Dick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mandango Sparmaqua!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dick shoots and misses

so Sparmaqua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dick is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Dick is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sparmaqua is looking to work some ground and pound but Dick has wrist control.
Sparmaqua tries to free his leg and advance position but Dick is retaining full guard.
Dick might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sparmaqua trying to control but Dick is working from the bottom.
Sparmaqua preventing the sweep.
Dick is working hard here to advance position.
Sparmaqua trying to control the position from guard on top but Dick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Dick scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sparmaqua is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dick's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dick is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparmaqua wants to control but Dick is keeping busy.
Sparmaqua is looking to improve his position.

Dick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Dick seems to be working for a kimura but Sparmaqua defends the submission attempt.
Sparmaqua wants to get back to full guard.

Dick is working for a kimura but Sparmaqua is defending it quite comfortably.
Dick wants to pass the guard but Sparmaqua is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sparmaqua trying to hold on to Dick's head to control him but Dick postures up.

Dick is trying to work for a kimura but Sparmaqua is defending well.
Dick is thwarting Sparmaqua's attempts to control the position.

Dick looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sparmaqua wants to improve his position but Dick is controlling well.
Dick has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dick goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sparmaqua is on top in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dick is on top in guard.
Dick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Dick postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sparmaqua is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dick, into his guard.
Sparmaqua thows a big elbow that misses.

Sparmaqua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sparmaqua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dick preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dick keeping full guard, as Sparmaqua tries to pass.
Dick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparmaqua.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sparmaqua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dick controlling Sparmaqua's posture.
Sparmaqua thows a big elbow that misses.
Dick is trying to control the position but Sparmaqua postures up.
Sparmaqua wants to pass the guard but Dick is keeping the position.
Dick trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mandango Sparmaqua will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sparmaqua fails to land with a series of punches.
Sparmaqua misses with a takedown attempt

and Dick counters with a single leg into guard. Sparmaqua didn't expect that.

Sparmaqua working for a triangle but Dick defends it easily.
Dick trying to control but Sparmaqua is working from the bottom.

Sparmaqua working for a triangle but Dick defends it easily.

Dick drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sparmaqua looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sparmaqua looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sparmaqua!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dick gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sparmaqua is looking to pass Dick's guard but actually Dick recovers to full guard.
Sparmaqua postures up.
Dick preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sparmaqua postures up.
Sparmaqua postures up in Dick's guard and throws a big left but Dick blocks it.
Sparmaqua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dick is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dick can't keep his opponent in guard - Sparmaqua advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sparmaqua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dick is trying to maintain the position but Sparmaqua is very close to passing his half guard.
Dick blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sparmaqua.

Sparmaqua is looking for submissions but instead, Dick has regained full guard.
Sparmaqua controlling from the top position.
Dick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparmaqua is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparmaqua passes Dick's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Sparmaqua wants to work for an arm triangle but Dick is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Dick is defending against the submission attempts here by Sparmaqua.
Sparmaqua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dick is looking for a sweep. Sparmaqua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dick is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sparmaqua's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sparmaqua's back!
Sparmaqua breaks Dick's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Dick lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sparmaqua!
Dick moves to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dick is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Dick is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sparmaqua knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sparmaqua for a finish.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sparmaqua is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Sparmaqua is in a bad position with Dick working for a choke. Sparmaqua manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Dick controls Sparmaqua momentarily but Sparmaqua frees himself.
Dick is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sparmaqua is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dick has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sparmaqua has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Dick dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dick with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sparmaqua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dick keeping full guard, as Sparmaqua tries to pass.
Sparmaqua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sparmaqua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dick has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Sparmaqua drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dick looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dick looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dick!

Dick swings around for an armbar but Sparmaqua sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Dick's guard.
Sparmaqua postures up.
Sparmaqua thows a big elbow that misses.
Dick has control of Sparmaqua's left arm, preventing Sparmaqua from doing any damage.
Sparmaqua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dick is on top in guard.
Dick passes Sparmaqua's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sparmaqua looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sparmaqua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dick pulls his head out easily.
Dick passes to full mount!

Dick goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sparmaqua is on top in guard.

Sparmaqua drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dick dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dick trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparmaqua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sparmaqua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sparmaqua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dick is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sparmaqua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sparmaqua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dick defends well.
Dick is pushing down on Sparmaqua's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sparmaqua is fighting to maintain full guard but Dick has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dick stalling away here and it's allowed Sparmaqua to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Sparmaqua has his foot on Dick's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dick works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dick trying to control but Sparmaqua is working from the bottom.
Dick slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Dick tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dick has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dick moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Dick is looking to take a break and control but Sparmaqua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sparmaqua is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dick's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparmaqua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sparmaqua tries to roll over but Dick keeps him under control.
Sparmaqua is staying active underneath Dick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Dick is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rick Dick overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dick is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sparmaqua doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dick.

Dick looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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 Rick Dick.
Well Dick has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Dick!