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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sparks is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sparks. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 170 cm
29
152 lbs
12 - 8 - 0 |
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179 cm
30
165 lbs
10 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cruz throwing shots but Sparks is blocking nicely.
Cruz prevents Sparks from standing back up.
Sparks regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cruz.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz trying to control but Sparks is working from the bottom.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sparks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cruz postures up in Sparks's guard and throws a big left but Sparks blocks it.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sparks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sparks is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Sparks blocks nicely.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz stands up over Sparks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Sparks has wrist control.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sparks is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sparks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
Sparks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Sparks keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sparks is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nate Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Sparks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sparks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz fails with the takedown
and Sparks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Sparks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Sparks counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz stops Sparks from passing to mount.
Cruz taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz thows a huge punch but Sparks dodges it nicely.
Sparks wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sparks is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Cruz trying to control from Sparks's half guard. Sparks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sparks's guard.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sparks's head.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz winds up and cracks Sparks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cruz trying to control the action but Sparks is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sparks is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Sparks reverses the position - he's now on top in Cruz's guard.
Cruz is pulling down on Sparks's head to control his posture.
Sparks is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cruz controlling Sparks's posture.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sparks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sparks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nate Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sparks looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Sparks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sparks trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Sparks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has his hands on Sparks's head, controlling the position.
Sparks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nate Cruz.
Sparks ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Sparks avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Nate Cruz will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparks circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sparks counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Sparks.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Sparks tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz 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.
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sparks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cruz's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Cruz has control of Sparks's left arm, preventing Sparks from doing any damage.
Sparks postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz wants to stand up but Sparks is controlling him.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks stops Cruz from standing up.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Nate Cruz just wasn't active enough.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sparks landing strikes from the mount.
Cruz tries to hold on but Sparks pushes him away.
Cruz sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cruz 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.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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!
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Sparks sits in half guard.
Sparks takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cruz is staying active underneath Sparks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nate Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz controlling the position well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz is trying to keep Sparks in close.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks postures up.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Nate Cruz just wasn't active enough.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Sparks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparks. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Sparks takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Sparks feints a jab promting Cruz to slip. Sparks then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sparks looking to score a takedown here. Cruz is defending well but Sparks drives through and ends up in Cruz's guard.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparks is one step ahead there.
Sparks passes Cruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to hold on to Sparks's head to control him but Sparks postures up.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Sparks has control of the leg.
Sparks wants to work for an arm triangle but Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Cruz manages to get to full guard.
Cruz pulls Sparks in to control the position.
Ricky Sparks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Sparks controlling him for the moment.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sparks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Sparks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nate Cruz!
Nate Cruz took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Down Under - Supplements.160Q Video Proof for their support in the buildup to the fight.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
65% |
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