PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Drotenkov Filippovich (ranked 5621 p4p, 514 weight class) and Frankie Sparks (ranked 6836 p4p, 568 weight class). Sparks comes into a darkened arena with his song building. thunderstruck kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Frankie Sparks will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Filippovich
vs
Sparks

175 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Drotenkov Filippovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frankie Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filippovich swings widly with a right hand
and Sparks counters with a stiff right hand.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Filippovich but Filippovich pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Filippovich shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sparks's guard.

Sparks pushes Filippovich off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sparks wants to clinch.
Filippovich dips to his left and cracks Sparks with an uppercut!
Filippovich misses with an uppercut. Sparks saw that one coming.

Filippovich gets tackled into the cage by Sparks. Sparks maintains the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Filippovich gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Filippovich tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sparks just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sparks successfully pulls guard.
Filippovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sparks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Filippovich stopping the sweep attempt from Sparks.

Filippovich thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Filippovich tries to free his leg and advance position but Sparks is retaining full guard.
Sparks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Filippovich is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sparks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filippovich drops back looking for a leg! Sparks is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sparks manages to kick Filippovich off! Filippovich jumps back into Sparks's guard.

Filippovich drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sparks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sparks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sparks!

Filippovich manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sparks tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Filippovich looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filippovich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Filippovich is trying to get back to full guard.

Filippovich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Filippovich wants to control but Sparks is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Filippovich controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Filippovich looking for submissions off his back.
Filippovich controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Sparks is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Filippovich. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Filippovich is refusing to be controlled, as Sparks sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frankie Sparks will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sparks moves into the clinch.
Sparks's coach down at Temp Spar Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sparks's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Filippovich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Filippovich prevents a takedown attempt there.
Filippovich misses with a short punch on the inside.

Sparks breaks the clinch.

Filippovich shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sparks is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Filippovich is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sparks still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sparks has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filippovich manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sparks's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filippovich looking for submissions off his back.
Filippovich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sparks.
Frankie Sparks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sparks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Filippovich defending well though.
Filippovich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Filippovich is looking for a sweep. Sparks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Filippovich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sparks.
Sparks with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sparks is looking to take a break and control but Filippovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Filippovich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sparks.
Sparks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Filippovich defending well though.
Filippovich regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sparks throws a big elbow that misses.
Filippovich pulls Sparks in to control the position.
Sparks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Filippovich keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.

Filippovich 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filippovich is looking to cinch up a triangle. Sparks throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Filippovich's body to avoid the submission. Filippovich has instead reached around Sparks's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Filippovich arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Drotenkov Filippovich!
In his post fight interview, Drotenkov Filippovich started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
In defeat, Frankie Sparks stepped up to the mic, saying 'sorry better try harder I guess'.