PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darren Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Lombard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lombard is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mortal Kombat. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sparks
vs
Lombard

185 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

176 cm
25
195 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hector Lombard!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lombard circles away.
Lombard tries to bum rush Sparks with a series of wild strikes but Sparks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lombard blocks a head kick by Sparks.
Nice sprawl there from Lombard as Sparks shoots in.
Lombard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lombard wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sparks clinches up with Lombard and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lombard.
Sparks can't get the takedown.
Lombard misses with a body punch.
Lombard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lombard is trying to push Sparks away but Sparks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sparks is trying to drag Lombard to the mat but Lombard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lombard is trying to break the clinch but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.

Sparks lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lombard moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombard keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
Lombard is looking to stand up but Sparks isn't so interested in that idea.

Lombard pushes Sparks off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lombard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lombard wants it to stay on the feet.
Lombard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sparks tries a head kick but it misses.
Sparks tries a head kick but it misses.

Sparks drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lombard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lombard wants to stand up but Sparks is controlling him.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Lombard keeps moving.
Sparks is fighting to break Lombard's control of his arms but Lombard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Lombard is keeping the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lombard tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lombard moves away from the strike by Sparks.
Sparks shoots for a takedown but Lombard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks thows a body shot but no joy.
Sparks misses with a right hand
and Lombard counters with a series of strikes. Sparks will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sparks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sparks misses the jab.
Lombard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sparks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lombard misses the body punch
and Sparks counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sparks pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sparks clinches with his opponent.
Lombard wants to get back to striking at distance but Sparks won't allow it.
Sparks has Lombard pressed against the cage, preventing Lombard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Sparks breaks the clinch.
Lombard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lombard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lombard looks to score with a jab to the body but Sparks is just out of range.
Lombard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sparks.

Sparks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lombard did well to prevent Sparks getting side control.
Sparks wants to control but Lombard is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lombard tries to kick Sparks off but Sparks keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lombard wants to control but Sparks is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sparks is working for a kimura but Lombard is defending it quite comfortably.
Sparks throwing shots but Lombard is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Sparks dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sparks throws a lazy right hand but Lombard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Lombard moves out of range.
Lombard throws a lazy uppercut
and Sparks counters with a three punch combo that has Lombard backing up. Lombard nods at Sparks to acknowledge the strikes.
Darren Sparks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparks wants to clinch up but Lombard keeps it at a distance.
Lombard is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sparks rather than just go for the knockout.
Sparks lands with an overhand left.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sparks lands a jab-cross combination.
Sparks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sparks is looking to clinch.
Sparks misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lombard. That did some damage!
Sparks loads up on a big right hand but Lombard slips the punch.
Lombard digs a good hook to Sparks's body.
Lombard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sparks manages to avoid it.
Sparks lands a jab to the nose.
Lombard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lombard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Sparks looking to score a takedown here. Lombard is defending well but Sparks drives through and ends up in Lombard's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks won't allow Lombard to sweep him here.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Lombard is keeping the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lombard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lombard is keeping the position for now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sparks dives in and scores a takedown into Lombard's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lombard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sparks wants to control from the top but Lombard keeps moving.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lombard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sparks being controlled here momentarily.
Lombard is trying to control the position but Sparks postures up.
Lombard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sparks!
Lombard prevents Sparks from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombard tries to control but Sparks wriggling away.
Lombard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lombard prevents Sparks from getting the reversal.
Lombard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sparks is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sparks is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Sparks dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sparks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lombard connects with a body shot that sends Sparks's belly button to the back.
Sparks takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sparks connects with a right hand. Lombard shakes it off.
Lombard misses with a jab to the body
and Sparks counters with a stiff right hand.
Lombard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sparks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lombard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lombard's waist but Lombard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparks off to one side.
Sparks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sparks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sparks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sparks swinging wildly here.
Lombard swinging wildly here.
Sparks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hector Lombard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lombard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sparks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sparks wants to clinch.
Sparks throws out a leg kick but Lombard moves out of range and Sparks only half commits.
Lombard lands with a shot to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Lombard. No joy for Sparks on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Lombard misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sparks, as that shot connected.
Sparks lands with a kick to the temple. Lombard shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sparks punishes Lombard's body with a nice straight punch.
Sparks connects with a body shot that sends Lombard's belly button to the back.
Sparks throws a sloppy head kick and Lombard moves out of range easily.
Lombard misses with the combination.
Sparks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lombard as he avoids it easily.
Darren Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Lombard.
Sparks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lombard.
Sparks throws a head kick but Lombard moves out of range.
Darren Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sparks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lombard throws a hook but Sparks blocks it.

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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Sparks!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Darren Sparks waved his t-shirt featuring CEC Nutrition Q160's logo in front of the cameras.