PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bourque
vs
Aoki

192 cm
39
156 lbs
42 - 20 - 0

155 cm
41
147 lbs
36 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 42 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Bourque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki loads up on a big right hand but Bourque slips the punch.
Aoki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Aoki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bourque sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aoki misses with a straight right.
Aoki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bourque checks it well.
Aoki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Aoki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aoki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bourque on the side of the head.
Aoki throws out a loose jab but Bourque uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bourque misses with a series of wild punches.
Bourque looks to land a combination but Aoki avoids it well.
Bourque throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aoki darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bourque throws a lazy right hand but Aoki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bourque displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Aoki bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bourque's head backwards.
Nice defenses there by Aoki.
Bourque cracks Aoki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Paul Bourque is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aoki misses with a hook. Bourque ducked under it nicely.
Bourque walks into a jab.
Bourque misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Good leg kick by Aoki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Good shot there by Bourque.
Aoki throws a leg kick but Bourque checks it.
Bourque looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Bourque misses the target.
Bourque scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki looks to land a right hand but Bourque moved out of range.
Bourque really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A punch combination from Aoki misses.
Aoki thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bourque if he has to take too many more of those.
Aoki looks to throw the jab but Bourque is out of range.
Aoki throws out a leg kick but Bourque moves out of range and Aoki only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bourque misses with a few strikes there.
Aoki throws a shot from downtown. Bourque moves away and avoids it.
Bourque throws a big shot that misses.
Aoki explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Aoki dodges the punch combination from Bourque.
Aoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aoki throws a right hand that misses
and Bourque counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aoki misses with an uppercut. Bourque saw that one coming.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Aoki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but Bourque blocks with his arms.
Aoki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bourque working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque is trying to force a seperation but Aoki has the dominant position.
Bourque wants to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Aoki.
Aoki trying to land knees to the body.
Bourque avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.
Bourque on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bourque tries to circle away but Aoki has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bourque.
Aoki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paul Bourque has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakazu Aoki.
Bourque wants to get back to striking at distance but Aoki won't allow it.
Aoki wants a takedown.
Aoki missing with knees to the body.
Aoki wants to break free but Bourque has control.
Aoki misses with a body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki just leaning against Bourque, taking a breather.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aoki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bourque's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aoki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aoki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bourque swinging wildly here.
Bourque misses with a body shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bourque enables Aoki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bourque manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aoki content to stall in guard here.
Bourque looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
Bourque has control of Aoki's left arm, preventing Aoki from doing any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Masakazu Aoki wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bourque uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aoki.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bourque throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bourque ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bourque misses with a hook.
Aoki needs to keep his hands up - Bourque had a free shot at his head there.
Bourque takes a swing at Aoki's ribcage but misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aoki misses with a looping left.
Aoki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bourque misses with a hook
and Aoki counters with a nice uppercut.
Aoki throws a head kick but Bourque moves out of range.
Aoki tries to work over Bourque's front leg with a kick but Bourque checks it.
Bourque jabs Aoki right on the nose. Aoki blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Bourque is avoiding it.
Bourque connects with a single shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aoki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bourque's half guard.
Aoki is trying to control. Bourque wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bourque is trying is best to control the position here.
Bourque wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aoki controlling the action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Paul Bourque wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Aoki throws a hook to the side of Bourque's head but Bourque sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki moves forwards but Bourque connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bourque ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Bourque circles away.
Bourque is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bourque ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Aoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bourque takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Aoki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bourque manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bourque scores with a body shot.
Aoki misses with a lunging right hand
and Bourque counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bourque connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Aoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bourque.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Aoki moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Aoki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque catches Aoki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
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!
Bourque misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Aoki looks to score with a jab to the body but Bourque is just out of range.

Aoki drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Bourque has control of Aoki's left arm, preventing Aoki from doing any damage.
My spies in The Warehouse inform me that Aoki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Aoki wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masakazu Aoki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Aoki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bourque managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
Aoki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Aoki controlling the action here for a moment.

Aoki jumps guard.
Bourque pushes down on Aoki's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Aoki is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque wants to stand up but Aoki is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Bourque tries to pass.
Aoki wants to sweep here but Bourque controlling him for the moment.
Aoki has a closed guard, preventing Bourque from standing up.
Bourque has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Bourque stands and steps away. Aoki gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bourque slips a jab and a cross from Aoki.
Bourque is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Aoki misses the jab.
Bourque slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Aoki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bourque sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bourque moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bourque misses the shot to the body.
Masakazu Aoki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Aoki throws a half hearted mid kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bourque scores with a shot to the body.
Paul Bourque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice jab there from Bourque.
Nice jab there from Bourque.
A telegraphed right hand from Aoki misses the target.
Aoki slips under a jab from Bourque.
Bourque ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
Aoki throws a leg kick but Bourque moved away.

Aoki moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque is looking to break free of the clinch but Aoki has double underhooks.

Aoki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aoki misses with a head kick.
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aoki takes a swing at Bourque's ribcage but misses.
Bourque with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bourque takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bourque slips a jab and a cross from Aoki.
Aoki misses with a looping right.
Bourque slips under a jab.
Bourque lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bourque pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aoki moves forwards but Bourque connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bourque throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aoki sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Aoki wants to pass the guard but Bourque is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bourque is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki is pressing down on Bourque's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bourque is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki works his foot free and advances to mount.
Aoki with good strikes from the mount here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Masakazu Aoki.
I've got Aoki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
After winning the bout, Masakazu Aoki thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.