PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Izzy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kobayashi Masato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masato has chosen Tekken 5 Dark Ressurection - Snow Castle as his entrance music. Kobayashi Masato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sparks
vs
Masato

172 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Izzy Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kobayashi Masato!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masato keeps the fight on the outside.

Sparks clinches up against the cage.

Sparks has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Masato uses from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Sparks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sparks is on top in guard.
Sparks won't allow Masato to get back to his feet.
Sparks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Masato is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masato wants to stand but Sparks is controlling the position.
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 working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masato's head.
Sparks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Sparks stands up and waves to Masato to follow him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masato tries to clinch but Sparks is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sparks dives in and scores a takedown into Masato's guard.
Sparks scoring with some ground and pound.
Masato wants to stand and escape but Sparks is having none of it.
Masato looks gassed!
Sparks is working Masato over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Masato wants to stand and escape but Sparks is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sparks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sparks drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sparks jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sparks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sparks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Masato's head.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sparks advances position into side control!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sparks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masato keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sparks stands up.
Kobayashi Masato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Sparks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks tries a head kick but it misses.

Masato gets tackled into the cage by Sparks. Sparks maintains the clinch.
Sparks blocks the elbow strike.
Sparks misses with a body punch.
Sparks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Masato clinches up with Sparks and pushes him back against the cage.

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

Masato moves into the clinch successfully.
Masato pushes off an throws an elbow but Sparks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sparks is trying to break free.
Sparks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Masato tries to pull guard but Sparks holds him up against the cage and eventually Masato drops back down to his feet.
A short left from Sparks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sparks prevents it.
Sparks lands a shoulder strike.

Sparks breaks from the clinch.
Masato lands a head kick. Sparks smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Masato throws a head kick that misses.
Masato keeps the fight on the outside.
Masato moves out of range of the body kick.
Sparks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Masato moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Masato has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Some wild striking there from Sparks.
A punch combination from Sparks misses.
Masato lands a head kick. Sparks smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sparks looks to land a combination but Masato avoids it well.
Masato misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sparks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Masato can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparks winds up and cracks Masato with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Masato kicks off Sparks and gets to his feet.
Masato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Masato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masato sprawls well. Masato wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Sparks takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sparks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Masato throws a head kick that misses.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch but Sparks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Sparks gets a double leg takedown into Masato's guard.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sparks is pushing down on Masato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Masato is fighting to maintain full guard but Sparks has managed to sneak the leg through.
Masato is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Sparks decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izzy Sparks dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Masato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sparks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Masato.
Sparks avoids the head kick by Masato.
Sparks keeps the fight on the outside.
Masato misses with a head kick.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Masato avoids them all with ease.
Izzy Sparks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masato lands with a kick to the temple. Sparks shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Masato closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Masato misses with an elbow strike.

Masato ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Masato no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sparks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Masato's head.
Masato wants to stand up but Sparks is controlling him.
Sparks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Sparks stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sparks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sparks lunges at Masato with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Masato's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Sparks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sparks cracks a nice hook into Masato's ribs.

Sparks clinches up with Masato and pushes him back against the cage.
Sparks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short uppercut from Sparks.
Masato goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sparks prevents it.
Sparks goes for a takedown attempt but Masato pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sparks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Masato sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sparks somewhat.

Masato drives through and clinches with Sparks against the cage.
Masato lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks lands a left hand.
Masato pushes off an throws an elbow but Sparks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Masato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sparks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Izzy Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masato slips a straight right by Sparks.
A head kick misses from Masato.
Masato stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparks. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Masato throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sparks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masato tries to clinch but Sparks is having none of it.
Masato lands with a kick to the temple. Sparks shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Masato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sparks misses with the combination.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Masato avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sparks darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sparks does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Masato lands a head kick!
Sparks blocks a head kick by Masato.
Masato looks for a takedown but Sparks sprawls well.

Sparks pushes Masato up against the cage in a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Masato just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sparks's brow.
Stalling in the clinch from Sparks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sparks.

Masato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sparks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Masato.
A clash of legs there as Masato blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sparks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Masato sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sparks somewhat.
Masato circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masato throws a head kick that misses.

Sparks closes the distance and clinches.

Sparks breaks the clinch.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sparks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sparks throws a low kick but it's checked well by Masato.
Sloppy strikes from Sparks. Those never looked like landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masato lands with a slapping head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masato throws a head kick that misses.
Sparks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masato slips a jab and a cross from Sparks.
Masato lands a high kick!
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 Izzy Sparks will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Masato stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparks. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Sparks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Masato throws a sloppy head kick and Sparks moves out of range easily.
Masato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sparks tries for a takedown but Masato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Masato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Masato circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparks looks to score with a jab to the body but Masato is just out of range.

Masato clinches with his opponent.
Masato misses with an elbow strike.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Masato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masato tries to clinch there but Sparks circles away.
Sparks fails to land with a series of punches.

Masato clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Sparks blocks a head kick by Masato.

Sparks closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sparks avoids the elbow strike from Masato, against the cage.
Masato prevents Sparks from breaking the clinch.
Masato tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Masato prevents Sparks from breaking the clinch.
Sparks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sparks can't break the clinch.
Masato wants a takedown but no success here.
Izzy Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kobayashi Masato.
Masato lands a damaging elbow.
Masato can't get the takedown.
Sparks is trying to break the clinch but Masato is controlling him.
Sparks tries a body shot but Masato blocks it.
Sparks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masato is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sparks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sparks drops down looking for an ankle pick but Masato pulls his leg out and moves away.
Masato misses with a head kick.
Sparks throws a right hand that Masato ducks under and follows up with a left that Masato also avoids with ease.
Masato throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sparks.

Masato fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sparks, pushing him back against the cage.
Sparks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masato is keeping busy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Masato gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Masato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sparks moves in looking to clinch but Masato pushes him off.
Sparks feints a jab promting Masato to slip. Sparks then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Masato slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Masato throws a head kick but Sparks moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato throws a sloppy head kick and Sparks moves out of range easily.
Sparks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A big right from Sparks misses.
Masato wants to clinch.
Masato has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A head kick misses from Masato.

Sparks has Masato up against the cage in a clinch.
Sparks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sparks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Masato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sparks is trying to break the clinch but Masato is controlling him.
Masato prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sparks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Masato is working for takedown but Sparks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Masato is trying to break the clinch but Sparks is controlling him.
A shot in the inside from Sparks.
Sparks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Masato manages to pull guard.
Sparks pushes down on Masato's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sparks stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Masato to get to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Masato has closed the distance and engaged Sparks in a clinch.
Izzy Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sparks.
With the fighters up against the cage, Masato throws an elbow but misses.
Sparks tries to break the clinch but Masato is controlling the position.
Kobayashi Masato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sparks lands with a short shot to the head.

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 Izzy Sparks.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sparks, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Izzy Sparks!