PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Sparr (ranked 2074 p4p, 1746 weight class) and Jacob Rees Mogg (ranked 286 p4p, 241 weight class). Sparr's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Sparr
vs
Rees Mogg

190 cm
28
189
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
192
17 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyler Sparr!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacob Rees Mogg!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Rees Mogg blocks the low kick.
Rees Mogg throws out a counter right but Sparr avoids it with no problem.
Sparr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tyler Sparr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparr has his takedown stuffed
and Rees Mogg counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sparr throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rees Mogg counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sparr walks into a left hand.
Sparr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sparr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rees Mogg steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sparr.
Sparr throws a hook but Rees Mogg blocks it.
Sparr throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rees Mogg counters with a crisp right hand that drops Sparr! Rees Mogg lets Sparr back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sparr shoots in and bounces Rees Mogg off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Sparr's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rees Mogg keeping moving, preventing Sparr from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparr throws a big elbow that misses.
Sparr tries to free his leg and advance position but Rees Mogg is retaining full guard.
Sparr's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rees Mogg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sparr stands up over Rees Mogg, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rees Mogg working a defensive guard here.
Rees Mogg keeping full guard, as Sparr tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sparr with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rees Mogg is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sparr throws a looping overhand right but Rees Mogg ducks down to avoid it.
Sparr sets himself, and Rees Mogg steps forward looking for the clinch! Sparr avoids it this time.
A big left from Sparr misses.
Sparr has a takedown stuffed.

Sparr darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sparr throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Sparr.
Sparr looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sparr thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rees Mogg's head.
Sparr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rees Mogg slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sparr 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.
Sparr is looking to work some ground and pound but Rees Mogg has wrist control.
Sparr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rees Mogg keeping moving, preventing Sparr from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparr lands a couple of digs.
Sparr scoring with some ground and pound.
Rees Mogg working a defensive guard here.
Sparr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sparr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rees Mogg holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sparr misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tyler Sparr will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sparr misses with a head kick.
Sparr swings widly with a right hand
and Rees Mogg counters with a nice body shot.
Rees Mogg throws a right and a left that Sparr avoids nicely.
Sparr feinted with a counter takedown.
Sparr misses with the combination.
Rees Mogg looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tyler Sparr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rees Mogg throws out a loose jab but Sparr uses good head movement to avoid it.
A low kick from Sparr is predictable there
letting Rees Mogg counter with a right hand.
Rees Mogg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sparr throws a poor cross that misses
and Rees Mogg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sparr!
Sparr misses with a straight left.
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!
A slow jab from Sparr misses its intended target.
Rees Mogg cracks Sparr with a right hand to the side of the head.

Rees Mogg clinches with his opponent.
Sparr wants to break free but Rees Mogg has control.
Sparr tries to score a body lock takedown but Rees Mogg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sparr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rees Mogg scores with a shot to the body.
Sparr throws a lazy uppercut

and Rees Mogg holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rees Mogg scores with a shot to the side of Sparr's head.
Sparr is trying to pull guard but Rees Mogg has him pressed against the cage.
Sparr misses with a body punch.
Sparr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Sparr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rees Mogg comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A head punch on the inside from Sparr fails to land.
Rees Mogg prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sparr has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rees Mogg is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rees Mogg presses Sparr against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sparr tries to throw a body punch but Rees Mogg avoids it by throwing Sparr back against the cage.

Sparr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sparr tried to score with a low kick but Rees Mogg checks it.
Sparr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rees Mogg's coach down at 3Band MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rees Mogg's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Sparr takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparr getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rees Mogg closes the distance and clinches.
Rees Mogg lands a damaging elbow.
Rees Mogg scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rees Mogg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sparr.
Sparr fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rees Mogg lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rees Mogg lands a hook that snaps the head of Sparr backwards.
Jacob Rees Mogg seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sparr is working for takedown but Rees Mogg is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sparr tries to break the clinch but Rees Mogg is controlling the position.
Sparr tries to break the clinch but Rees Mogg is controlling the position.
Rees Mogg lands an uppercut.
Sparr tries to circle away but Rees Mogg has him pinned against the cage.
Rees Mogg throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sparrs head.

Sparr is rocked!
Sparr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Oh Sparr is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparr tries a body shot but Rees Mogg blocks it.

Rees Mogg drops Sparr onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Sparr is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Sparr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rees Mogg is defending well.
Sparr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rees Mogg just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rees Mogg blocks an uppercut.
Sparr wants a takedown.
Sparr is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rees Mogg pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sparr seems to have got his legs back now.
Sparr throws a head punch that misses.
Rees Mogg lands a shoulder strike.
Rees Mogg works on Sparr's body with a couple of short punches.
Rees Mogg working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rees Mogg lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rees Mogg lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sparr.
Rees Mogg lands a damaging elbow.
Rees Mogg lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Sparr to his knees! Rees Mogg keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jacob Rees Mogg!
Jacob Rees Mogg is the new middleweight champion!
Jacob Rees Mogg took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Churchill would be delighted.'.