PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Makonouchi Ippo (ranked 2544 p4p, 250 weight class) and Isaac Sparks (ranked 3137 p4p, 305 weight class). Ippo comes to the ring accompanied by Zenbonzakura. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ippo
vs
Sparks

190 cm
26
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

RAGS of a RONIN
Pit Bull Development

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q
Fanatic Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makonouchi Ippo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Isaac Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks has his takedown stuffed
and Ippo counters with a straight right hand.
Sparks takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sparks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ippo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sparks or perhaps it was just good defense by Ippo, which made it look bad.
Makonouchi Ippo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaac Sparks.
Sparks shoots in but Ippo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Isaac Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab by Ippo.
Ippo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sparks takes one to the chin there.
Sparks misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Ippo to counter with a crisp jab.

Ippo catches Sparks napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Sparks to the canvas!

Sparks is rocked!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sparks working for a triangle but Ippo defends it easily.
Sparks is still in real trouble! Can Ippo finish him?
Ippo controlling from the top position.

Sparks throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ippo escapes and throws Sparks's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks looking for a sweep but Ippo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Sparks seems to have recovered his senses.
Sparks looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sparks is trying desperately to improve position.
Ippo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sparks working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks keeps trying to improve his position.
Sparks bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ippo is keeping the position for now.
Ippo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ippo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sparks pushing down on Ippo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sparks is trying to control the action in half guard but Ippo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sparks is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ippo is just riding it out for now. Sparks eventually gives up the hold.

Ippo actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ippo won't allow Sparks to pass to mount.
Ippo is not content to let Sparks control the position.

Sparks is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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

Sparks seems to be working for a kimura but Ippo defends the submission attempt.

Sparks is working for a kimura but Ippo is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is thwarting Ippo's attempts to control the position.
Sparks working over Ippo with some ground and pound. Ippo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sparks seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ippo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sparks trying to pass the guard but Ippo defending well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sparks works his way into full mount!

Sparks moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Ippo has worked his arm free - good work by Ippo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makonouchi Ippo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Good exchange - Ippo coming out on top.
Sparks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ippo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sparks walks into a stiff left hand from Ippo.
Ippo scores with a decent looking hook.
Good exchange - Ippo coming out on top.
Ippo lands with a hook. Sparks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sparks takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ippo walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Sparks drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Ippo swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Sparks's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Makonouchi Ippo!
Makonouchi Ippo is the new lightweight champion!
An out of breath Makonouchi Ippo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.