PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Muraki Tunamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Allen Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tunamoto
vs
Sparks

180 cm
37
194 lbs
28 - 27 - 0

186 cm
28
196 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 28 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Muraki Tunamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Allen Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tunamoto connects with a body shot that sends Sparks's belly button to the back.
Tunamoto tries to bum rush Sparks with a series of wild strikes but Sparks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sparks drives through and clinches with Tunamoto against the cage.
Tunamoto lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Allen Sparks has been cut.
Tunamoto lands an elbow inside.
Sparks misses with the head strike.
Tunamoto scores a nice knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from Tunamoto.
Sparks looks winded!
Tunamoto manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sparks misses with a knee strike.
Sparks working aggressively here.
Tunamoto lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sparks is trying to stall.
Sparks is trying to break the clinch but Tunamoto has him pressed against the cage.
Tunamoto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tunamoto landing knees to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tunamoto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sparks stalling in the clinch but Tunamoto improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tunamoto throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Tunamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tunamoto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sparks, pushing him back against the cage.
Sparks misses with a knee to the head.
Tunamoto pushes Sparks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tunamoto lands an elbow just above Sparks 's eye.

That has opened up Allen Sparks's cut even more.

Tunamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tunamoto lands a jab.
Sparks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tunamoto.
Muraki Tunamoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sparks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tunamoto.

Sparks rushes Tunamoto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sparks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
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!
Tunamoto is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tunamoto lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tunamoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Sparks controls his hands.
Tunamoto has Sparks pushed against the cage.

Tunamoto breaks from the clinch.
Tunamoto misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tunamoto as he avoids it easily.
Sparks shoots for a takedown but Tunamoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Muraki Tunamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Allen Sparks.
Sparks takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

The cut above Allen Sparks's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Sparks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tunamoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sparks throws a shot to the body.

Sparks has taken the fight to the clinch.
I was talking to Tunamoto's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Tunamoto breaks from the clinch.

Sparks closes the distance and clinches.
Sparks misses with a knee to the head.

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

Tunamoto darts in and clinches Sparks up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tunamoto tries to work over Sparks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tunamoto prevents a takedown attempt there.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Come on Sparks - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sparks lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tunamoto backwards.
Tunamoto lands a nice elbow.
Tunamoto works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tunamoto.

Sparks is rocked!

Allen Sparks's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Tunamoto works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sparks is still on wobbly legs! Can Tunamoto finish him?

Tunamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sparks with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tunamoto counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Sparks badly! Tunamoto follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Sparks out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Tunamoto finished him against the cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Muraki Tunamoto!
Muraki Tunamoto managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, GREEN!160, into his post fight interview.