PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clive Burrows (ranked 4412 p4p, 463 weight class) and Frankie Sparks (ranked 24284 p4p, 578 weight class). Sparks has chosen thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Burrows
vs
Sparks

166 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Clive Burrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frankie Sparks!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burrows jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sparks blocks a head kick by Burrows.
Sparks tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burrows defends well and Sparks ends up having to push Burrows into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sparks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Burrows circles away quickly and effectively.
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.
Sparks lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Clive Burrows has been cut.
Sparks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burrows throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sparks's waist but Sparks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burrows off to one side.
Sparks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sparks closes the distance and clinches up with Burrows, looking for a takedown. Sparks pushes Burrows against the cage but Burrows circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clive Burrows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Sparks.
Nice takedown defense from Burrows. No joy for Sparks on that attempt.
Sparks throws a series of strikes that have Burrows backpedaling.
Burrows tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sparks was well out of range. Poor timing from Burrows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sparks tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burrows defends well and Sparks ends up having to push Burrows into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sparks avoids a kick to the body.
Sparks blocks a jab.
As Burrows backs off Sparks throws a huge counter combo but Burrows manages to avoid it all.

Burrows shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Burrows showed some decent athleticism there.
Sparks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sparks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows throws a big right hand that misses.
Burrows 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.
Burrows postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burrows definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sparks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Burrows throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Burrows from controlling successfully.
Sparks pulls Burrows in close to prevent any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Burrows's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Burrows with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burrows working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burrows throws a big elbow that misses.
Burrows working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burrows in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Burrows trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burrows throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparks wants to get back to his feet but Burrows is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Burrows is in close to Sparks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burrows connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burrows cracks Sparks with a solid left hand.
Burrows with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burrows trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burrows is looking to work some ground and pound but Sparks has wrist control.
Burrows scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Burrows with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sparks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sparks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Burrows from controlling successfully.
Burrows working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burrows lands a couple of digs.
Burrows with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sparks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Burrows with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burrows trying to control but Sparks is working from the bottom.
Sparks has momentary wrist control but Burrows slips an elbow through the middle.

Sparks is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Burrows has Sparks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sparks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sparks breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No joy there for Sparks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burrows feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clive Burrows dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Clive Burrows's cut.
That's time! Burrows's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sparks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burrows manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burrows dodges the punch combination from Sparks.
Sparks connects with a body shot.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown but Burrows shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sparks gets caught napping as Burrows dives in and scores a takedown. Sparks manages to retain guard.

Sparks pushes Burrows off and scrambles back to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sparks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burrows stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burrows wants it to stay on the feet.
Sparks moves out of range as Burrows strikes.
Sparks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Burrows tried to score with a low kick but Sparks checks it.
Sparks feints the counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sparks or perhaps it was just good defense by Burrows, which made it look bad.
Clive Burrows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Sparks.

Burrows shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Burrows scores with a couple of nice shots.
Burrows landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Burrows is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Burrows working over Sparks with some ground and pound. Sparks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sparks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sparks flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sparks is trying to get back to full guard.
Sparks trying to control but Burrows postures up.
Sparks taking some punishment here, with Burrows in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrows landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Burrows seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Burrows thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sparks's head.
Burrows throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Burrows working Sparks over with strikes.
Burrows working the head and body with strikes.
Burrows thows a huge punch but Sparks dodges it nicely.
Ground and pound from Burrows.
Burrows lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burrows is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Burrows lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Burrows lands a nice short elbow.
Burrows looks to land a strike but Sparks avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Burrows is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sparks can do to turn this around?
Burrows in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Burrows postures up in Sparks's guard and throws a big left but Sparks blocks it.
Sparks wants to sweep but no luck.
Burrows with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Burrows with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burrows throws an elbow that misses. Sparks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burrows's guard. Nice move by Sparks!

Burrows controls Sparks momentarily but Sparks frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burrows manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sparks manages to get himself to full guard.

Burrows with a nice head shot there.
Burrows is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burrows distracts Sparks with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Burrows preventing the sweep.
Burrows working some strikes from top position.
Burrows throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burrows trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burrows throwing strikes from guard but Sparks blocks nicely.
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 managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clive Burrows dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Clive Burrows's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Burrows scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Burrows missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sparks controlling the position for now.
Sparks is looking to improve his position.
Burrows takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Burrows not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrows is nestled in close to Sparks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sparks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burrows.
Sparks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Burrows.
Burrows thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sparks's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Burrows slips a nice elbow through Sparks's hands, connecting with Sparks's forehead.
Burrows slips a nice elbow through Sparks's hands, connecting with Sparks's forehead.
Sparks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burrows connects with a nice short shot to Sparks's temple.
Burrows scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Sparks is rocked!
Sparks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Burrows.
Burrows throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Burrows is nestled in close to Sparks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Burrows.
Sparks is still in real trouble! Can Burrows finish him?
Sparks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Burrows scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sparks taking some punishment here, with Burrows in his half guard.
Burrows scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burrows.
Burrows thows a huge punch but Sparks dodges it nicely.
Sparks seems to have recovered his senses.
Burrows drops an elbow to the side of Sparks's head.
Burrows working the head and body with strikes.
Burrows missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burrows scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Burrows looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sparks with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Burrows throwing shots but Sparks is blocking nicely.

Sparks kicks off Burrows and gets to his feet.
Sparks connects with a right hand. Burrows shakes it off.
Burrows shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sparks pinned against the cage. Sparks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sparks is looking for the big counter here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks fails with a takedown attempt.
Sparks takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice takedown defense from Burrows. No joy for Sparks on that attempt.

Burrows 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.
Burrows working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sparks trying to control the position.
Burrows throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Clive Burrows overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burrows is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burrows with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Burrows won't allow Sparks to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Burrows's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sparks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burrows trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burrows is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Burrows is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Burrows scoring with punches to the head and body.
Burrows throwing strikes from guard but Sparks blocks nicely.
Burrows throws an elbow that misses. Sparks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burrows's guard. Nice move by Sparks!

Frankie Sparks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks preventing the sweep.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burrows tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clive Burrows is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sparks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Burrows on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Burrows tries to get out of the position.
Sparks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clive Burrows showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burrows, 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clive Burrows!
Clive Burrows seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Frankie Sparks spoke after the fight, saying 'sorry better try harder I guess'.