PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Check Mong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Bourque will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mong
vs
Bourque

196 cm
23
260 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

194 cm
23
220 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Check Mong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Bourque!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bourque wants to clinch up but Mong keeps it at a distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bourque.
Bourque tries to clinch up.
Mong shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bourque as he jumps to the side.
Bourque tries to clinch there but Mong circles away.
Mong fails to land the takedown.
Bourque fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bourque rushes Mong and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Mong is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Check Mong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mong throws a punch but it's blocked by Bourque.
Bourque blocks an uppercut.
Mong tries to land a knee to the head but Bourque blocks with his arms.
Bourque tries a knee to the head but Mong blocks it.

Mong is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Bourque can't fight it off and eventually Mong manages to take the fight to the floor. Bourque looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bourque works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bourque is trying to keep Mong in close.
Mong is pushing down on Bourque's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bourque is fighting to maintain full guard but Mong has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mong 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.
Bourque trying to control but Mong postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mong drops back looking for a leg! Bourque is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bourque manages to kick Mong off! Mong jumps back into Bourque's guard.
Mong is breathing heavily.
Bourque is looking to stand up but Mong isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bourque is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mong 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.

That's two 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.
Bourque working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bourque moves into the clinch.
Bourque with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bourque gets underhooks to prevent Mong's takedown attempt.
A short left from Bourque.
Bourque lands an elbow that stopped Mong in his tracks for a moment.

Mong lands a takedown into guard.
Bourque looking for a sweep. Not yet Bourque, not yet.
Mong throws a big right hand that misses.
Bourque utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Bourque wants to stand but Mong is controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mongis looking to pass into half guard but Bourque pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bourque is in guard.
Mong keeping moving, preventing Bourque from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mong's guard.
Mong controls Bourque momentarily but Bourque frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Mong closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Bourque is defending against the submission attempts here by Mong.
Mong prevents Bourque from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bourque keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bourque is looking to escape.

Mong is working for a kimura but Bourque is defending it quite comfortably.
Bourque really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mong wants to free his trapped foot but Bourque is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mong tries to close the distance and clinch but Bourque swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bourque clinches up against the ropes.
Mong wants a takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bourque connects with a knee to the head.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mong tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bourque smiles and moves away.
Bourque moves in looking to clinch but Mong pushes him off.
Mong fails with the takedown.
Bourque tries to clinch there but Mong circles away.
Mong steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bourque. That one must have hurt.
Bourque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bourque stuffs the takedown.
Bourque fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bourque closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mong counters with a takedown into side control.
Bourque tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mong misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bourque manages to get back to half guard.
Bourque trying to hold on to Mong's head to control him but Mong postures up.
Mong working the head and body with strikes.

Mong seems to be looking for submissions.

Mong is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bourque is looking to escape.
Mong tries to pass to full mount but Bourque defends it.
Mong wants to advance to full mount but Bourque doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bourque gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bourque lands a nice knee to the body.
Bourque avoiding damage as Mong throws knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Bourque creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bourque lands a knee to the body.
Bourque looking to stall.
Bourque lands an elbow just above Mong 's eye.
The is referee keeping an eye on Bourque - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bourque lands a nice shot to the body.
Mong has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bourque is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bourque lands a knee to the head.
Bourque tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bourque with a knee to the head.
Bourque throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mong blocks it with crossed arms.
Bourque is trying to maintain a safe position but Mong gets an underhook and turns Bourque into the ropes.
Bourque lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mong backwards.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Bourque stalls.
Bourque lands an elbow inside that Mong shrugs off.
Mong takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bourque lands an elbow that stopped Mong in his tracks for a moment.
Bourque is trying to stall.
Mong tries to land a knee to the head but Bourque blocks with his arms.
Bourque is trying to maintain a safe position but Mong gets an underhook and turns Bourque into the ropes.
Bourque with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bourque with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mong tries for a takedown but Bourque manages to get underhooks.
Bourque lands an elbow that stopped Mong in his tracks for a moment.

Mong gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bourque regains guard.

Mong postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bourque is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mong, into his guard.
Mong striking off his back but it's not causing Bourque any problems.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bourque would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bourque preventing the sweep.
Bourque trying to control the position from guard on top but Mong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mong punching from the bottom - just letting Bourque know he's still in a fight.
Mong lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Mong trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bourque wants to stand but Mong is controlling his posture from full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mong unloads with some shots from mount but Bourque bucks and avoids them well.
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 Check Mong will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bourque tries to clinch up but Mong circles away and keeps his distance.

Mong tries to keep at a distance but Bourque has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bourque lands a left hand.
Mong drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bourque gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bourque connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mong's face.
Mong swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bourque with a knee to the head.
Mong drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bourque pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bourque tries to clinch up but Mong circles away and keeps his distance.
Bourque wants to clinch up but Mong keeps it at a distance.
Bourque wants to clinch up but Mong keeps it at a distance.
Jab by Mong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque doesn't manage to clinch there - Mong circles away.
Check Mong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Mong with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Check Mong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bourque forces Mong back against the ropes and clinches.
Mong goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bourque prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bourque with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bourque connects with a knee to the head.
Bourque lands a nice elbow.
Bourque trying to stall but Mong improves his position.
Mong takes an elbow to the temple.
Mong takes an elbow to the temple.
A knee to the head by Bourque.
Bourque lands a knee to the body.
Mong is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A knee to the head by Bourque.
Bourque is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mong is keeping busy.
Mong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bourque lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Bourque.
Bourque connects with a knee to the head.
Bourque landing knees to the body.
Bourque lands a nice elbow.
Bourque avoiding damage.
Bourque lands an elbow inside.
Bourque prevents the takedown attempt.
Good body shot from Bourque.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bourque lands an elbow inside.
Mong tries to throw a body punch but Bourque avoids it by throwing Mong back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mong is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Bourque gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bourque lands an elbow that stopped Mong in his tracks for a moment.
Bourque scores a nice knee to the body.
Mong tries for a takedown but Bourque manages to get underhooks.
Bourque is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bourque comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bourque prevents a takedown attempt there.
A knee to the head by Bourque.
Bourque stops a takedown attempt from Mong.
Mong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bourque stalling against the ropes.
Bourque lands an elbow inside.
Bourque wants to stall.
Bourque connects with a knee to the head.
Mong goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bourque prevents it.
Bourque lands a knee to the body.
Bourque trying to stall but Mong improves his position.
Bourque blocks an uppercut.
Bourque lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque connects with a knee to the head.
Bourque looking to stall.
A right hook to the body lands for Bourque.
Mong tries to score a body lock takedown but Bourque shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bourque lands an elbow that stopped Mong in his tracks for a moment.
Bourque is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bourque just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Mong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bourque has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bourque content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bourque lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mong is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Bourque gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bourque connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mong's face.
Bourque with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mong drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bourque is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bourque lands a knee to the head.
Mong tries for a takedown but Bourque manages to get underhooks.
Mong looking for a takedown.
Bourque is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bourque lands a nice elbow.

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.
Bourque leaning against his opponent.

Mong ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mong no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bourque wants to control from the top but Mong keeps moving.
Mong striking off his back but it's not causing Bourque any problems.
Mong trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mong keeping moving, preventing Bourque from controlling successfully.
Mong wants to sweep here but Bourque controlling him for the moment.
Bourque sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mong's guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mong tries to get to full guard but Bourque has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Bourque darts in and clinches Mong up against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Bourque.
Bourque unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mong lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice elbow from Bourque.
Bourque gets underhooks to prevent Mong's takedown attempt.
Bourque tries to stall but Mong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mong takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bourque landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Bourque.
Bourque tries to stall but Mong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bourque blocks it with crossed arms.
Bourque lands a knee to the head.
Bourque tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mong goes for a takedown attempt but Bourque pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Mong feints and as Bourque raises his hands in defense, Mong changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Mong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bourque keeping full guard, as Mong tries to pass.
Mong is working hard here to advance position.
Mong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mong throwing strikes but missing.
Mong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bourque tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Mong misses with a takedown attempt - Bourque sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Brian Bourque is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Bourque darts in and clinches Mong up against the ropes.
Bourque scores with a knee to the head.
Mong tries to score a body lock takedown but Bourque shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Brian Bourque seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Knees to the body from Bourque.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bourque takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bourque blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Bourque gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mong.
Bourque using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bourque lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bourque lands a knee to the head.
Mong gets through Bourque's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mong looking to throw knees to the head but Bourque is blocking nicely.
Mong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bourque with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Mong turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mong manages to end up in side control.
Bourque wants to control but Mong postures up.
Bourque tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mong easily slips into full mount!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Mong in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mong postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bourque looks a forlorn figure.
Bourque is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Mong there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mong lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bourque hang on?
Mong sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Bourque wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mong.
Bourque can't escape the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Mong is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bourque has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bourque!
Mong has a closed guard, preventing Bourque from standing up.
Bourque wants to pass the guard but Mong is keeping the position.
Mong tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mong throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Bourque comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Brian Bourque!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Brian Bourque!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Brian Bourque!

Brian Bourque wins by unanimous decision!