PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucius Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Petrakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucius Sparks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sparks
vs
Petrakov

200 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

210 cm
18
295 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lucius Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Petrakov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrakov shoots in for a takedown but Sparks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Petrakov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sparks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Petrakov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparks keeps working.

Petrakov decides to stand back up.

Petrakov rushes Sparks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Petrakov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Petrakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Petrakov gets a clinch.
Sparks is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks prevents the takedown attempt.
Lucius Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Petrakov.
Petrakov wants to get back to striking at distance but Sparks won't allow it.
Sparks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Petrakov backwards.
Petrakov wants a takedown.
Sparks scores a nice knee to the body.
Petrakov looks winded!
Sparks tries to pull guard but Petrakov holds him up against the cage and eventually Sparks drops back down to his feet.

Petrakov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sparks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sparks is looking to work some ground and pound but Petrakov has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks lands a couple of elbows.
Sparks postures up and lands a big shot to Petrakov's brow.
Petrakov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.
Sparks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sparks throws an elbow that misses. Petrakov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sparks's guard. Nice move by Petrakov!
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Petrakov from controlling successfully.
Petrakov slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Sparks.
Petrakov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparks keeps working.
Sparks moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sparks looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sparks is striking off his back. Petrakov thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Sparks is trying to stand back up but Petrakov is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sparks actively working from the bottom here.

Petrakov is trying to work for a kimura but Sparks is defending well.
Sparks is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Petrakov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sparks controls his leg.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Petrakov trying to control from Sparks's half guard. Sparks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Petrakov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sparks's half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petrakov is trying to control. Sparks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sparks flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Petrakov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sparks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Petrakov is trying to defend but Sparks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sparks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sparks lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Petrakov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sparks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petrakov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparks lands a couple of digs.
Sparks throws a big right hand that misses.
Vladimir Petrakov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Petrakov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sparks is in close to Petrakov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sparks chips away with some ground and pound.
Petrakov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sparks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Petrakov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sparks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sparks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Petrakov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sparks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrakov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Petrakov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Petrakov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sparks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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

Sparks pushes Petrakov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrakov misses with a double jab.
It looked like Sparks wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrakov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Sparks shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sparks was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sparks scoring with punches from side control.
Petrakov struggling a bit here.
Petrakov regains half guard, as Sparks was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrakov wants to control but Sparks is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sparks drops an elbow to the side of Petrakov's head.
Sparks misses with a head shot. Petrakov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sparks chips away with some ground and pound.
Petrakov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Petrakov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sparks passes into side control.
Sparks in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Petrakov swings for the body but Sparks moves out of range.
As Petrakov looks to move away, Sparks throws a big counter combo bu Petrakov just gets out of the way.
Vladimir Petrakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Petrakov moves into the clinch.
Sparks tries to pull guard but Petrakov holds him up against the cage and eventually Sparks drops back down to his feet.
Petrakov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sparks is keeping busy.

Sparks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrakov fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrakov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Petrakov throws a lazy head kick

and Sparks counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Petrakov to keep the fight standing.
Petrakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Petrakov missing with knees to the body.
Sparks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Petrakov smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucius Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Petrakov clinches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sparks.
Petrakov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sparks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks lands a good knee to the midsection. Petrakov won't want to take too many of those.
Sparks tries to land a knee to the head but Petrakov blocks with his arms.
Sparks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Petrakov backwards.
Petrakov is trying to pull guard but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.
Sparks lands a nice shot to the body.
Sparks is trying to pull guard but Petrakov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sparks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Petrakov is defending well for now.
Sparks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sparks misses with a body punch.

Petrakov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sparks gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sparks trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Sparks is working an open guard so Petrakov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Petrakov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sparks.
Sparks attempts a counter takedown but Petrakov avoids it well and moves away.

Petrakov darts in and clinches Sparks up against the cage.

Petrakov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petrakov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Petrakov has Sparks up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrakov working hard to break the clinch.
Petrakov avoiding damage as Sparks throws knees to the body.
Petrakov is trying to pull guard but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.
Sparks has Petrakov pressed against the cage.
Sparks tries to work over Petrakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sparks has picked Petrakov up - he's going for a ride! Sparks dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Sparks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Petrakov trying to control from the bottom.

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 Lucius Sparks.
I think Sparks 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucius Sparks!