PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Leighty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leighty comes into the arena with Cowboy Dan blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Leighty
vs
Sparks

185 cm
24
193 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

185 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dan Leighty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks doesn't manage to clinch there - Leighty circles away.
Leighty misses with a leg kick
and Sparks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leighty connects with a leg kick. Sparks looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Leighty dodges the punch combination from Sparks.
Leighty is looking to land body kicks.
Leighty stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leighty wants it to stay on the feet.
Sparks tries to clinch but Leighty moves away
and Leighty cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Leighty avoids them all with ease.

Sparks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sparks wants to pass to mount but Leighty is defending the position.

Sparks is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Leighty defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks is looking to stall here but Leighty recovers full guard.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leighty is keeping the position for now.
Leighty is pulling down on Sparks's head. It's preventing any offense from Sparks, at least for the moment.
Leighty wants to sweep but no luck.
Sparks wants to pass the guard but Leighty is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Leighty holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Leighty wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Leighty avoids a kick to the body.
Sparks moves in looking to clinch but Leighty pushes him off.
Sparks misses with a hook. Leighty ducked under it nicely.
Leighty throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Leighty defending well as Sparks loads up on a big left hand.
Sparks moves in looking to clinch but Leighty pushes him off.
Sparks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sparks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dan Leighty is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sparks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Leighty manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sparks gets tackled into the cage by Leighty. Leighty maintains the clinch.
Leighty lands a nice uppercut.
A short right from Leighty on the inside.
Sparks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leighty scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leighty scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sparks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sparks is looking to break free of the clinch but Leighty has double underhooks.
Sparks has had enough of the clinch but Leighty keeps him there for the moment.
Sparks tries to break the clinch but Leighty is controlling the position.
Leighty can't find room to land a body shot as Sparks controls the action.
Sparks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sparks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leighty is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sparks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leighty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sparks's efforts to push away.
Leighty lands with a light punch inside.
Leighty misses with a knee strike.
Sparks wants to break free but Leighty has control.
Leighty throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sparkss head.
Sparks takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparks is trying to break free.
Sparks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leighty has him pressed against the cage.
Sparks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Sparks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leighty lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sparks or not.
Leighty dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Leighty tries to work over Sparks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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 Dan Leighty will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Leighty lands a right hook to the body.
A left lands for Leighty.
Sparks moves to clinch but Leighty breaks away

and Leighty counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Leighty.
Leighty goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Leighty keeps control of Sparks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leighty working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Leighty throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leighty stalling in the clinch but Sparks improves position.
Leighty stalling the fight.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Leighty for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Leighty lands with a right to the head.
Leighty has Sparks pressed against the cage, preventing Sparks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Leighty lands a shoulder strike.
Sparks wants to get back to striking at distance but Leighty won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighty lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sparks backwards.
Leighty has a couple of punches blocked by Sparks.
Sparks wants to break free but Leighty has control.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leighty.
Leighty prevents Sparks from breaking the clinch.
Leighty lands an uppercut.
Sparks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leighty has him pressed against the cage.
Leighty slowing the pace effectively.
Sparks takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sparks is trying to break the clinch but Leighty has him pressed against the cage.
Leighty lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sparks takes a shot to the head.
Leighty is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Leighty is leaning against Sparks and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Leighty lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is looking to break free of the clinch but Leighty has double underhooks.
Sparks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leighty landing knees to the head.

Sparks is rocked!
Leighty lands a body punch in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparks tries to circle away but Leighty has him pinned against the cage.
Leighty lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sparks is still on wobbly legs! Can Leighty finish him?
Leighty lands a knee to the body.
Leighty scores with a nice hook to the head.
Leighty is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Leighty gets through Sparks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Leighty scores a nice knee to the body.
Sparks is breathing heavily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Leighty creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Leighty pushes Sparks against the cage. Leighty is working some dirty boxing. Leighty pushes off with a quick right hook! Sparks goes down! Sparks tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Leighty moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dan Leighty!
Dan Leighty thanked the fans post fight for their support.