PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Sparks (ranked 8550 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shingai Magaya (ranked 6231 p4p, 0 weight class). Shingai Magaya acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sparks
vs
Magaya

162 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stevie Sparks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shingai Magaya!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magaya fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Magaya shoots in looking for a takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl out of it but Magaya 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.
Sparks is looking for a counter combo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Magaya.
Sparks is looking for a counter combo.
Stevie Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shingai Magaya.
Magaya fails to land the takedown.

Magaya darts in and clinches Sparks up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparks misses with some punches.
Sparks can't find room to land a body shot as Magaya controls the action.
Magaya holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sparks misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magaya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Magaya jumps guard but Sparks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sparks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Magaya trying to control the position but instead, Sparks has worked for underhooks and has pushed Magaya into the cage.

Sparks jumps into guard, dragging Magaya to the mat.
Sparks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Magaya manages to get himself to full guard.

Sparks working some strikes from top position.
Magaya has momentary wrist control but Sparks slips an elbow through the middle.
Magaya working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.
Sparks working some strikes from top position.
Sparks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Magaya has momentary wrist control but Sparks slips an elbow through the middle.

Magaya escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sparks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Magaya looking for a sweep. Not yet Magaya, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparks throwing strikes from guard but Magaya blocks nicely.
Sparks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.
Sparks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Magaya's head.
Magaya not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sparks is looking to work some ground and pound but Magaya has wrist control.
Sparks scoring with some ground and pound.
Sparks has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Magaya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Magaya looks winded!
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sparks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Magaya is proving hard to escape from.

Sparks gets to his feet - Magaya follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sparks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magaya, pushing him back against the cage.
Sparks prevents the takedown attempt.
Magaya wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.

Sparks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparks shoots in and drives through. Magaya sprawls well.
Sparks shoots in for a double leg but Magaya sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Magaya fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sparks checks a leg kick nicely.

Sparks moves into the clinch.
Sparks really is a fat lump.

Sparks successfully pulls guard.
Sparks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Magaya from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magaya's guard.

Sparks lands a couple of digs.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sparks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sparks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Magaya has momentary wrist control but Sparks slips an elbow through the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks is in close to Magaya's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sparks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Magaya controls Sparks momentarily but Sparks frees himself.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sparks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sparks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sparks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sparks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magaya can do to turn this around?
Magaya shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sparks defends it nicely.
A head kick misses from Magaya.

Sparks moves into range and clinches up with Magaya.
Sparks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sparks jumps guard but Magaya turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sparks misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magaya looking for a takedown.
Magaya is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sparks to keep the fight standing.
Stevie Sparks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shingai Magaya.
Sparks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sparks is trying to pull guard but Magaya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Magaya avoids it.
Sparks tries a body shot but Magaya blocks it.
Magaya fails to pull guard.
Magaya holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sparks struggles to land a body shot inside as Magaya controls his hands.
Sparks misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magaya taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Sparks gets control of Magaya's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sparks will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Magaya must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet but Magaya is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sparks trying to control the position.
Magaya showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sparks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magaya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Magaya preventing the sweep.
Stevie Sparks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sparks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magaya's guard.

Sparks stands up over Magaya, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Magaya working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Magaya is breathing heavily.
Magaya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magaya controls Sparks momentarily but Sparks frees himself.

Sparks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Magaya shoots in looking for a takedown but Sparks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Magaya's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sparks shoots for a double leg takedown but Magaya sprawls well. He's pushed Sparks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sparks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Magaya circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Magaya moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sparks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magaya moves into the clinch successfully.
Sparks misses with a punch to the body.

Sparks drags the fight down to the ground.
Magaya passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Sparks is pressing down on Magaya's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sparks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Magaya manages to get himself to full guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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 Magaya has wrist control.
Magaya wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Sparks dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Magaya shoots for a takedown but Sparks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sparks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Magaya manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sparks scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Sparks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sparks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Magaya is trying to improve his position.

Sparks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sparks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sparks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Magaya to his feet.
Shingai Magaya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magaya looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Magaya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sparks shoots in and gets a takedown into Magaya's guard.

Magaya working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Sparks cracks Magaya with a solid left hand.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparks scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Magaya utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sparks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sparks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Magaya wants to sweep but no luck.

Sparks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Sparks closes the distance and clinches.

Sparks pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks is trying to hold Magaya in close to prevent damage but Magaya has managed to pass into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks trying to control here.
Magaya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparks keeps working.
Sparks works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks wants to stand and escape but Magaya is having none of it.
Magaya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sparks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sparks is on top in guard.

Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.
Magaya is trying to control the position but Sparks postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sparks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sparks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sparks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sparks distracts Magaya with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Magaya trying to keep a closed guard but Sparks is proving a slippery customer.
Sparks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks chips away with some ground and pound.
Magaya is trying to control the position but Sparks postures up.
Sparks connects with a couple of short punches.
Sparks stands up over Magaya, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sparks landing some decent shots from guard.

Sparks decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sparks utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shingai Magaya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevie Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sparks is trying to pull guard but Magaya has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stevie Sparks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sparks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

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