PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adrian Depaoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sparks comes to the cage accompanied by Viva Las Vegas by Dead Kennedys. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sparks
vs
Depaoli

180 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
158 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

White Gorilla Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Adrian Depaoli!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Depaoli misses with a takedown attempt

and Sparks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Depaoli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
Depaoli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Depaoli wants to sweep but no luck.
Sparks pushing down on Depaoli's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Depaoli is looking to improve his position.
Sparks scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Depaoli tries to get to full guard but Sparks has control of the leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Depaoli is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sparks scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sparks perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Depaoli is trying to get back to full guard.
Sparks lands strikes from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sparks in particular looking to stall.
Sparks scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Depaoli wants to control but Sparks passes into side.
Depaoli is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sparks off and has taken his back!
Depaoli lands shots from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Depaoli manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Sparks breaks Depaoli's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Sparks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Depaoli is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.
Sparks thows a big elbow that misses.
Sparks passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Depaoli is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sparks's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Depaoli is looking for a sweep. Sparks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Depaoli is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Depaoli taking some punishment here, with Sparks in his half guard.
Sparks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sparks lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Depaoli on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sparks lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Depaoli is refusing to be controlled, as Sparks sits in half guard.
Depaoli is looking for a sweep. Sparks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Depaoli is pressing down on Sparks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sparks 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 got a little sloppy there for a moment and Depaoli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sparks has managed to get both his arms back between Depaoli's legs - danger averted.
Depaoli 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Depaoli keeps moving.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Depaoli looking to control.
Sparks postures up and lands a big shot to Depaoli's brow.
Depaoli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
Depaoli controls Sparks momentarily but Sparks frees himself.
Sparks thows a big elbow that misses.
Sparks throwing strikes but missing.
Depaoli not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Depaoli's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Depaoli 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.
Sparks trying to control but Depaoli is working from the bottom.

Depaoli had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sparks defends it easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Depaoli can do anything to dispel that myth.

Depaoli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sparks is aware though and is defending well.
Sparks is working Depaoli over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sparks looking to pass the guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparks content to stall in guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Depaoli tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sparks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Depaoli throws a sloppy head kick and Sparks moves out of range easily.
Depaoli will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Sparks tries to sprawl but Depaoli drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Depaoli not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sparks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sparks.
Sparks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Depaoli is pressing down on Sparks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Depaoli keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.

Sparks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sparks is looking to take a break and control but Depaoli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sparks is looking to advance position but Depaoli won't allow it.
Bobby Sparks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sparks winds up and cracks Depaoli with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sparks is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Depaoli is trying to get back to full guard.
Sparks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Depaoli manages to get to full guard.

Depaoli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Depaoli wants to sweep but no luck.
Sparks slips nicely into half guard.
Depaoli moves into full guard.
Depaoli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Depaoli keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.

Depaoli looking for a guillotine here but Sparks defends easily.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Depaoli is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Depaoli wants to sweep but no luck.

Depaoli 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.
Depaoli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
Depaoli is breathing heavily.
Sparks tries to free his leg and advance position but Depaoli is retaining full guard.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Depaoli 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 postures up in Depaoli's guard and throws a big left but Depaoli blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Depaoli looking to control.
Depaoli looking for a sweep. Not yet Depaoli, not yet.
Depaoli has momentary wrist control but Sparks slips an elbow through the middle.
Sparks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Depaoli throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sparks uses it to pass to side control.
Sparks working away.
Depaoli on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Depaoli can't do much from the bottom here.

Sparks looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sparks landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Depaoli tries to improve position but can't.
Depaoli prevents Sparks from improving position.
Depaoli tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bobby Sparks will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Sparks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Depaoli throws a leg kick that misses.
Sparks stuffs the takedown attempt from Depaoli. Depaoli gets slowly back to his feet.
Depaoli misses with a body kick.
A leg kick checked by Sparks.
Depaoli throws a front kick aimed at Sparks's knee but Sparks avoids it well.
Sparks wants to clinch up but Depaoli keeps it at a distance.

Sparks gets the takedown into side control.
Depaoli gets back to half guard.
Depaoli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Depaoli.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sparks cracks Depaoli with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks won't allow Depaoli to sweep him here.
Sparks postures up.
Depaoli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sparks trying to control but Depaoli is working from the bottom.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Depaoli is keeping the position for now.

Depaoli throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Depaoli manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sparks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Depaoli misses with a head shot.
Depaoli with shots to the head and body - Sparks looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sparks wants to hold on but Depaoli pushes him away.
Depaoli working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Depaoli looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Depaoli scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Depaoli scoring with strikes but Sparks is staying in there.
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.
Sparks is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Depaoli has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sparks's face.
Sparks sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sparks is trying to control but can't.
Depaoli with the ground and pound but Sparks uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Adrian Depaoli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Depaoli trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Depaoli passes into half guard.
Depaoli scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Depaoli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sparks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Depaoli.
Bobby Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Depaoli thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Depaoli wants to work for an arm triangle but Sparks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sparks trying to hold on to Depaoli's head to control him but Depaoli postures up.
Sparks is trying to stand up here but Depaoli is controlling him well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Depaoli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sparks defends it well.
Sparks on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Depaoli is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sparks still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sparks has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Sparks blocks the strikes from Depaoli.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adrian Depaoli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sparks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

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