PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darren Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bembol Oblaks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bembol Oblaks told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sparks
vs
Oblaks

185 cm
23
200 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

180 cm
30
190 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Bembol Oblaks!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sparks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oblaks throws a lazy head kick

and Sparks counters with a shoot takedown. Oblaks fights it but they end up in guard.
Oblaks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.
Oblaks keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Oblaks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oblaks wants to stand but Sparks is controlling the position.
Sparks tries to free his leg and advance position but Oblaks is retaining full guard.
Oblaks is pulling down on Sparks's head to control his posture.
Oblaks 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oblaks tries a head kick but it misses.

Oooh a lovely combination from Sparks sends Oblaks down but not out. Sparks dives into side control looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oblaks is trying to improve his position.
Sparks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oblaks keeps working.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Sparks is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Oblaks is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Oblaks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sparks wants to pass to mount but Oblaks is defending the position.

Sparks is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Oblaks defends it well.
Oblaks pushes Sparks off looking to stand but Sparks dives back in and keeps control.
Sparks works his way into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oblaks sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oblaks is looking to escape.
Sparks passes to side control.
Oblaks wants to get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Oblaks tries to buck Sparks off but Sparks is having none of it.
Sparks wants to control but Oblaks is keeping him busy.

Sparks thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Oblaks is trying to get back to half guard.

Sparks is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Oblaks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sparks tries for a kimura but Oblaks is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Oblaks is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Oblaks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oblaks defending against the ground and pound.

Sparks is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Oblaks is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sparks is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Oblaks has escaped the position, nice work there.
Oblaks tries to bench press Sparks off him but Sparks keeps the position.
Sparks prevents Oblaks from escaping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sparks stands up and beckons Oblaks to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oblaks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sparks.
Oblaks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Oblaks with a poor takedown
and Sparks counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Oblaks.
Sparks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Oblaks shoots in and drives through. Sparks sprawls well.
Darren Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bembol Oblaks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oblaks closes the distance and clinches up with Sparks, looking for a takedown. Oblaks pushes Sparks against the cage but Sparks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sparks looking to score a takedown here. Oblaks is defending well but Sparks drives through and ends up in Oblaks's guard.
Darren Sparks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Oblaks is trying to keep Sparks in close.
Sparks throwing strikes from guard but Oblaks blocks nicely.
Oblaks 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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oblaks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sparks postures up.

Oblaks working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Sparks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sparks tries to free his leg and advance position but Oblaks is retaining full guard.
Sparks is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oblaks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sparks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Oblaks is keeping the position.
Sparks stands and throws Oblaks's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sparks is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Oblaks will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Oblaks wants to control but Sparks postures up.

Sparks looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Sparks tries for a kimura but Oblaks is defending well.
Oblaks tries to bench press Sparks off him but Sparks keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sparks swings around for an armbar but Oblaks sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sparks's guard.
Sparks trying to keep a closed guard but Oblaks is proving a slippery customer.
Oblaks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Sparks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Oblaks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Oblaks drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Oblaks jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Oblaks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sparks is keeping the position for now.
Sparks wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Oblaks manages to get himself to full guard.

Sparks thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Oblaks 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.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oblaks swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sparks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Oblaks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sparks has managed to get both his arms back between Oblaks's legs - danger averted.

Sparks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Oblaks as Sparks shoots in.
Sparks throws a head kick but Oblaks moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oblaks shoots in for a takedown but Sparks shows good takedown defense.
A left and a right from Sparks both land. Nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sparks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Oblaks on his heels. He'll look to pass Oblaks's guard now, I'm sure.
Sparks won't allow Oblaks to sweep him here.
Sparks forces his way into half guard.
Sparks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sparks tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oblaks knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sparks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Oblaks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sparks.
Sparks tries to pass to full mount but Oblaks defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Sparks dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sparks lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Oblaks backs up against the cage.
Sparks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Oblaks misses with a head kick.
Darren Sparks is winning the standup battle so far.

Sparks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Oblaks is staying active underneath Sparks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Oblaks looking for submissions off his back.

Sparks seems to be looking for submissions.
Oblaks is looking for a sweep. Sparks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sparks passes to side control.
Oblaks tries to buck Sparks off but Sparks is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oblaks is trying to control Sparks's posture but Sparks avoids it.
Oblaks is trying to improve his position.

Sparks is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Oblaks has escaped the position, nice work there.

Sparks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sparks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sparks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Oblaks can do to turn this around?
Sparks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sparks working away.
Oblaks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sparks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sparks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is pulling down on Oblaks's head to control his posture.
Oblaks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sparks is keeping the position for now.
Sparks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Oblaks wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
Sparks wants to sweep but no luck.

Sparks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Oblaks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oblaks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Oblaks stopping the sweep attempt from Sparks.
Sparks has a closed guard, preventing Oblaks from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Oblaks from controlling successfully.

Sparks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Oblaks defends well.
Sparks trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Oblaks wants to control but Sparks is having none of it.

Sparks working for a submission but Oblaks is keeping him at bay.
Oblaks wants to control but Sparks is having none of it.
Oblaks is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Sparks working for a choke but Oblaks is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Sparks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sparks 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Sparks!
After the big win, Darren Sparks made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.