PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ronald Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarvis Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jarvis Sparks will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Griffin
vs
Sparks

168 cm
20
152 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ronald Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jarvis Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Griffin on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Griffin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sparks was covering up waiting for the punch and Griffin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sparks is looking to stand back up but Griffin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sparks.

Griffin tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparks trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Griffin manages to pass to mount!
Sparks wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

What's going on here? Griffin has decided to give up on the ground game despite having his opponent's back!
Griffin tries for a takedown but Sparks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Griffin ducks right into an uppercut from Sparks.

Sparks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sparks is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Griffin dives into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sparks can do anything to dispel that myth.

We've been hearing good reports from Griffin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Sparks trying to control but Griffin flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Griffin wants to stand up but Sparks is stuck to his back.
I really don't envy Sparks right now.
Griffin is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Griffin wants to stand up but Sparks is stuck to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to control the hands but Griffin won't let him.
Sparks is in bad spot here.
What can Sparks do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Sparks prevents his opponent from getting back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Sparks's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks looks winded!

Griffin gets to his feet and calls for his opponent to stand and trade! Heeeere we go!

Griffin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sparks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Griffin tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin stands up and beckons Sparks to his feet.
Sparks tries to clinch but Griffin moves out of range.

Griffin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sparks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Griffin wants to stand but Sparks has his arm trapped.
Sparks wants to control but Griffin postures up.
Griffin tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Griffin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sparks tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Griffin gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Griffin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sparks!
Sparks bucks up and tries to throw Griffin off but instead Griffin has got his back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Griffin controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Griffin dives in and scores a takedown into Sparks's guard.
Ronald Griffin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sparks wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Griffin is now in half guard.

Griffin decides to stand and escape the position.
Sparks stuffs the takedown.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt
and Sparks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Griffin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet but Griffin passes into half guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffin wants to stand up but Sparks is controlling the position.
Sparks wants to improve his position but Griffin is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks wants to control but Griffin passes into side.
Sparks is breathing heavily.
Griffin gets to mount! Sparks was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Griffin is looking to stand but Sparks has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Griffin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Griffin gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Griffin gets a takedown into half guard.
Griffin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sparks can do to turn this around?
Griffin wants to stand but Sparks has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks tries to get to full guard but Griffin has control of the leg.
Griffin tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Sparks tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Griffin has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Griffin is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks can't escape the position.
Griffin is looking to stand but Sparks has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

Griffin get's back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Griffin shoots in and bounces Sparks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sparks is looking to stand back up but Griffin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sparks.

Griffin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronald Griffin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Griffin feints and as Sparks raises his hands in defense, Griffin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Griffin wanted to stand there but Sparks had control of the position.

Griffin stands up and waves to Sparks to follow him.
Sparks slaps away a takedown attempt from Griffin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sparks as he avoids it easily.
Griffin sets himself, and Sparks steps forward looking for the clinch! Griffin avoids it this time.
Sparks paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sparks wants it to stay on the feet.
A little jabbing left from Sparks on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronald Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloppy strikes from Sparks. Those never looked like landing.
Sparks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Griffin.
Sparks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sparks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Griffin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sparks.
Ronald Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Griffin.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sparks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Griffin with that takedown attempt.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sparks as he jumps to the side.
Sparks lands with a hook. Griffin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Griffin is defended easily by Sparks.
Sparks throws a right and a left that both miss.

Griffin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Griffin tries to stand but Sparks is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is trying to work for a sweep but Griffin has mounted him!
Griffin tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Griffin manages to capitalize on a mistake by Sparks to take his back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Sparks's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Griffin gets back to his feet from a dominant position... quite strange.

Sparks gets caught napping as Griffin dives in and scores a takedown. Sparks manages to retain guard.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Griffin manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin is thwarting Sparks's attempts to control the position.

Griffin escapes and gets back to his feet.

Griffin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sparks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sparks tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet but Sparks is holding on tight.

Griffin stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Griffin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sparks is trying to defend but Griffin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sparks wants to stand back up but Griffin manages to pass into side control.
Ronald Griffin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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!
Griffin tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Sparks trying his best to control but Griffin has mounted him.
Griffin wants to stand but Sparks is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Sparks wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Jarvis Sparks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Griffin is trying to stand.

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 Ronald Griffin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Griffin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronald Griffin!