PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Timur Rubin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rubin
vs
Sparks

190 cm
21
256 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
252 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Timur Rubin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mickey Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubin lands an overhand right.
Rubin lands a body shot.
A big left from Sparks misses.
Sparks swings for the body but Rubin moves out of range.
Sparks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rubin looks to score with a jab to the body but Sparks is just out of range.
Rubin blocks the body kick.
Sparks swings for the body but Rubin moves out of range.
Rubin moves out of range of the strikes.
We've been hearing reports that Rubin has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rubin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sparks.
Sparks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sparks throws a chopping leg kick but Rubin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sparks avoids the body shot from Rubin.
Rubin defending well as Sparks loads up on a big left hand.

Sparks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rubin, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sparks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks struggles to land a body shot inside as Rubin controls his hands.

Rubin jumps into guard, dragging Sparks to the mat.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rubin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
Rubin has Sparks pulled in close to control his posture.
Sparks content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks trying to control but Rubin is working from the bottom.
Rubin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mickey Sparks was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rubin tests Sparks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sparks ducks under a wild hook from Rubin.
Good exchange - Sparks coming out on top.
Mickey Sparks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rubin goes for a double leg but Sparks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sparks continues to drive forward.
Sparks misses with a body punch.
Sparks misses with a body punch.
Sparks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sparks working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sparks.
A head punch on the inside from Rubin fails to land.
Sparks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sparks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rubin just leaning against Sparks, taking a breather.
Rubin struggles to land a body shot inside as Sparks controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sparks.
Sparks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rubin backwards.
The referee calls for Sparks to work.
Rubin misses with a body punch.
Rubin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sparks is keeping busy.
Rubin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sparks smiles and moves away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sparks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rubin misses with a body shot.
Sparks motions for Rubin to come forward. Sparks throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Sparks.
Mickey Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparks lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rubin at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rubin or perhaps it was just good defense by Sparks, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timur Rubin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubin looks for the body kick but Sparks saw that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparks misses with a wild body shot.
Sparks fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rubin checks it well.
Rubin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sparks misses with an uppercut. Rubin saw that one coming.
Sparks moves out of range as Rubin strikes.
Rubin wants to slow Sparks down by chopping away at his legs.
Rubin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sparks manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks looks to land a right hand but Rubin moved out of range.
Sparks fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rubin.

Rubin dives in and scores a takedown into Sparks's guard.
Sparks has his hands on Rubin's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Sparks dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sparks misses with a hook

and Rubin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sparks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sparks pulls Rubin in close to his closed guard and prevents Rubin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sparks is trying to keep Rubin in close.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rubin is in close to Sparks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sparks trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mickey Sparks was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sparks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks misses with a double jab.
A slow jab from Sparks misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rubin.
Sparks thows a leg kick but Rubin checks it

and Rubin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rubin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sparks is keeping the position for now.
Sparks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Timur Rubin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rubin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sparks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rubin passes Sparks's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rubin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rubin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sparks wants to control but Rubin is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is trying to get back to full guard.
Sparks tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rubin has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Sparks sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sparks is looking for a sweep. Rubin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rubin throwing shots but Sparks is blocking nicely.
Sparks is trying to get back to full guard.
Rubin 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 blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rubin.
Sparks is looking to control Rubin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sparks avoid being mounted?
Sparks is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sparks wants to improve his position but Rubin is controlling well.
Sparks pushes Rubin off looking to stand but Rubin dives back in and keeps control.
Rubin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sparks's head.
Rubin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sparks is trying to get back to full guard.
Rubin moves nicely into side control.
Rubin trying to control the action but Sparks is working from the bottom.
Rubin in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks gets back to half guard.
Sparks is looking for a sweep. Rubin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sparks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rubin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rubin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sparks defending well though.
Rubin is thwarting Sparks's attempts to control the position.
Rubin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sparks defending well though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparks is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Sparks is trying to get back to full guard.
Sparks trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Rubin dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sparks connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sparks misses the jab.
Rubin misses with a body shot.
Sparks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
An inside leg kick from Sparks misses.
Sparks with a hook.
Rubin lands a right hook to the body.

Rubin gets a takedown into half guard.
Sparks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rubin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubin is thwarting Sparks's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Rubin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Sparks trying to control but Rubin postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rubin working over Sparks with some ground and pound. Sparks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rubin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sparks knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rubin lands with a punch from half guard.
Sparks wants to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Rubin.
Sparks wants to get back to full guard.
Sparks trying to hold on to Rubin's head to control him but Rubin postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks gets back to full guard.
Sparks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparks is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rubin wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
Rubin throwing strikes from guard but Sparks blocks nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mickey Sparks was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rubin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sparks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sparks tries to buck Rubin off but Rubin is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sparks wants to control but Rubin is keeping busy.
Rubin throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sparks to regain full guard.
Sparks controlling the position.
Sparks is trying to control the position but Rubin postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rubin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sparks controls Rubin momentarily but Rubin frees himself.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Rubin from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rubin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sparks has momentary wrist control but Rubin slips an elbow through the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparks is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mickey Sparks has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rubin looks to land a right hand but Sparks moved out of range.
Sparks wants to land a leg kick but Rubin is out of range.
Sparks throws a poor cross that misses

and Rubin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sparks wants to control but Rubin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Rubin.
Sparks is not content to let Rubin control the position.
Rubin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sparks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rubin scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rubin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparks keeps working.
Rubin prevents Sparks from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timur Rubin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rubin 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timur Rubin!
After winning the bout, Timur Rubin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.