PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucius Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Mandela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sparks
vs
Mandela

200 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

194 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nelson Mandela!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Mandela clinches up with Sparks and pushes him back against the cage.

Mandela successfully pulls guard.
Mandela trying to keep a closed guard but Sparks is proving a slippery customer.
Sparks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mandela is looking to stand up but Sparks isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mandela pulls Sparks in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandela preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mandela wants to sweep here but Sparks controlling him for the moment.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks stands up over Mandela, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sparks stops Mandela from standing up.
Sparks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mandela working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sparks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mandela trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks postures up in Mandela's guard and throws a big left but Mandela blocks it.
Sparks scoring with some ground and pound.
Mandela wants to stand up but Sparks is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mandela lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Mandela stopping the sweep attempt from Sparks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sparks looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sparks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mandela stopping the sweep attempt from Sparks.

Sparks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mandela is aware though and is defending well.
Mandela trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mandela engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sparks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mandela's waist but Mandela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparks off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Sparks as Mandela shoots in.
Sparks attempts a counter takedown but Mandela avoids it well and moves away.
Mandela looks winded!

Mandela rushes Sparks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mandela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Sparks with that takedown attempt.
Mandela throws a leg kick but Sparks sees it coming and moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Mandela.

Sparks gets tackled into the cage by Mandela. Mandela maintains the clinch.
Mandela stops a takedown attempt from Sparks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucius Sparks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mandela is looking for a takedown.
Mandela stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks misses with the head strike.
Sparks lands a knee to the body.
Sparks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mandela tries to break free but Sparks pushes him back against the cage.
Sparks missing with knees to the body.
Sparks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Mandela breaks from the clinch.

Mandela rushes Sparks and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sparks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mandela or not.
Sparks lands with a short shot to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nelson Mandela will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucius Sparks's cut.
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 closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mandela circles away.
Mandela scores with a jab to the body.
Sparks fails with the takedown.
Mandela is looking for the big counter here.
Mandela lands the left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandela misses with an uppercut. Sparks saw that one coming.
Mandela dives in and grabs Sparks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sparks pushes down on Mandela's head and hops out.
Mandela shoots in but Sparks avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mandela gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mandela breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sparks tries to keep at a distance but Mandela has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mandela breaks from the clinch.
Lucius Sparks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mandela fails with the takedown
and Sparks counters with a stiff right hand.
Lucius Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Mandela.
Mandela is breathing heavily.

Mandela has Sparks up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandela prevents Sparks from breaking the clinch.
Sparks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mandela fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mandela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sparks as he jumps to the side.
Mandela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sparks's waist but Sparks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mandela off to one side.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mandela as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mandela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mandela gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sparks breaks from the clinch.
Nelson Mandela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sparks wants to clinch up but Mandela keeps it at a distance.
Mandela with the counter takedown but Sparks avoids it easily.
Mandela tries for a takedown but Sparks circles away easily
and Sparks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Sparks shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sparks showed some decent athleticism there.
Sparks winds up and cracks Mandela with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparks is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sparks lands a nice short elbow.
Sparks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mandela defending well though.
Mandela is trying to control but can't.
Sparks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sparks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sparks is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mandela sees it coming and defends easily.

Sparks stands up and beckons Mandela to join him on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Mandela moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Mandela misses.
Mandela shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sparks but Sparks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucius Sparks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucius Sparks's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sparks shoots in for a takedown but Mandela shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mandela tries for a takedown but Sparks circles away easily
and Sparks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Mandela gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mandela decides to pull guard.

Mandela has his foot on Sparks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sparks works his way back into a safe position though.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Mandela is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mandela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mandela looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks throws a big right hand that misses.
Sparks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mandela wants to stand and escape but Sparks is having none of it.
Sparks preventing the sweep.
Sparks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mandela's head.
Mandela is looking to stand up but Sparks isn't so interested in that idea.
Sparks cracks Mandela with a solid left hand.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sparks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sparks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sparks lands a couple of digs.
Sparks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mandela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mandela utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sparks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sparks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sparks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mandela trying to keep a closed guard but Sparks is proving a slippery customer.
Sparks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mandela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.
Mandela tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mandela trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sparks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mandela on his heels. He'll look to pass Mandela's guard now, I'm sure.
Sparks landing some decent shots from guard.
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Mandela looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mandela looking to control.
Sparks working some strikes from top position.
Sparks working some strikes from top position.
Sparks lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandela is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mandela utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sparks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mandela's head.
Sparks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mandela can do to turn this around?
Sparks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sparks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mandela's head.
Sparks chips away with some ground and pound.

Mandela working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mandela wants to stand and escape but Sparks is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucius Sparks showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

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