PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Logan Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sumi Gaeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gaeshi's choice of entrance music: Welcome to the Jungle. Sumi Gaeshi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sparks
vs
Gaeshi

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Plays chess

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Logan Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Sumi Gaeshi!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaeshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gaeshi stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparks. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Sparks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gaeshi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparks fails with a takedown attempt.
Sparks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaeshi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sparks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gaeshi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sparks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sparks wants to clinch up but Gaeshi keeps it at a distance.
Gaeshi misses with a double jab.
Gaeshi throws a good cross that connects.
Gaeshi throws a right hand that Sparks ducks under and follows up with a left that Sparks also avoids with ease.
Gaeshi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gaeshi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sparks counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gaeshi!
Gaeshi regains half guard.

Sparks is looking for a kimura but Gaeshi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sparks to get the leverage.
Gaeshi misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sparks trying to control from half guard but Gaeshi is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeshi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sparks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Gaeshi keeps moving.
Gaeshi 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A swing and a miss from Gaeshi.
Sparks slips a jab from Gaeshi.
Sparks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gaeshi pinned against the cage. Gaeshi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Logan Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparks is breathing heavily.
Gaeshi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sparks.

Gaeshi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sparks, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gaeshi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sparks jumps guard but Gaeshi stands there with Sparks around his waist. Sparks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gaeshi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Gaeshi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gaeshi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gaeshi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Gaeshi working a defensive guard here.
Gaeshi wants to stand but Sparks is controlling the position.
Sparks preventing the sweep.
Gaeshi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Gaeshi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sparks wants to clinch
and Gaeshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gaeshi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sparks. Sparks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gaeshi looks to throw the jab but Sparks is out of range.
Horrible takedown by Sparks or perhaps it was just good defense by Gaeshi which made him look bad.
Sumi Gaeshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparks shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sparks fails with the takedown
and Gaeshi counters with a straight right hand.

Gaeshi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gaeshi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gaeshi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaeshi with the ground and pound from mount.
Sparks tries to reverse the position but Gaeshi maintains control.
Sparks slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sparks trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks gets back to full guard.
Gaeshi postures up.
Gaeshi thows a big elbow that misses.
Sparks controls Gaeshi momentarily but Gaeshi frees himself.
Gaeshi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sparks looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gaeshi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gaeshi blocks the strikes from Sparks.

Sparks pushes Gaeshi off and gets back to his feet.
Gaeshi swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Sparks counters by moving into the clinch.
Sparks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gaeshi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sparks goes for a takedown attempt but Gaeshi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sparks tries for a takedown but Gaeshi circles away easily

and Gaeshi moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaeshi lands with a right to the head.
Gaeshi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sparks backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sumi Gaeshi will probably get the nod.
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.

Gaeshi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sparks.
Gaeshi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gaeshi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sparks with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gaeshi counters with a one-two to the body.
Gaeshi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gaeshi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sparks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gaeshi moves into the clinch.

Sparks pulls guard.
Gaeshi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sparks is keeping the position for now.
Gaeshi wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gaeshi distracts Sparks with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gaeshi works over Sparks with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeshi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gaeshi scoring with some ground and pound.
Sparks wants to stand but Gaeshi is controlling the position.
Sparks wants to sweep but no luck.
Gaeshi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gaeshi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet but Gaeshi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gaeshi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sparks's head.
Gaeshi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sparks has wrist control.
Sparks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparks wants to sweep here but Gaeshi controlling him for the moment.
Sparks looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice uppercut there from Sparks.
Sparks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gaeshi throws out the jab.
Sparks is looking to clinch but Gaeshi is avoiding it.
Sparks tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaeshi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gaeshi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sparks misses with a few strikes there.
Gaeshi throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sparks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gaeshi's guard.
Gaeshi can't keep his opponent in guard - Sparks advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sparks wants to free his trapped foot but Gaeshi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sparks is working hard here to advance position.

Sparks is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gaeshi is just riding it out for now. Sparks eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to control the action but Gaeshi is working from the bottom.
Sparks is really struggling to control Gaeshi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gaeshi trying to hold on to Sparks's head to control him but Sparks postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sparks has his takedown stuffed

and Gaeshi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sparks's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Logan Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaeshi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gaeshi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaeshi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gaeshi trying to control but Sparks is working from the bottom.
Logan Sparks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gaeshi tries to free his leg and advance position but Sparks is retaining full guard.
Sparks wants to stand up but Gaeshi is controlling him.
Gaeshi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gaeshi with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sparks throws a hook but Gaeshi blocks it.
Logan Sparks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaeshi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gaeshi tries a head kick but it misses.
Sparks moves in looking to clinch but Gaeshi pushes him off.
Sparks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gaeshi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sumi Gaeshi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sparks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gaeshi moves into the clinch.

Gaeshi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparks tries to clinch there but Gaeshi circles away.
Gaeshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sparks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sparks shoots in for a double leg but Gaeshi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Gaeshi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.
Sparks tries to hold on but Gaeshi postures up.
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.
Gaeshi looking to finish Sparks with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sparks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sparks is in a horrible position here. Gaeshi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gaeshi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gaeshi looking for a guillotine from mount but Sparks is having none of it.
Gaeshi lands a heavy elbow.
Sparks tries to lock up and control but Gaeshi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gaeshi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sparks tries to hold on but Gaeshi pushes him away.
Sparks really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sparks wants to control but Gaeshi is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaeshi with the ground and pound from mount.
Gaeshi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sparks is bucking up trying to escape but Gaeshi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gaeshi prevents Sparks from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Gaeshi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gaeshi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gaeshi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sparks looks a forlorn figure.
Sparks is trying to stand.
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaeshi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sparks tries to hold on but Gaeshi pushes him away.
Sparks is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sparks in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet.
Gaeshi thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Sparks blocking the ground and pound.
Sparks tries to hold on but Gaeshi pushes him away.
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.
Gaeshi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Gaeshi prevents Sparks from getting the reversal.
Gaeshi with a couple of short strikes.
Sparks is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaeshi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sparks is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sumi Gaeshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gaeshi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Sumi Gaeshi!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Sumi Gaeshi!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Sumi Gaeshi!

Sumi Gaeshi wins by unanimous decision!