PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Love-Hate Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timothy Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Timothy Bourque acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Powell
vs
Bourque

200 cm
34
252 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

225 cm
50
270 lbs
59 - 34 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Love-Hate Powell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 59 - 34 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Timothy Bourque!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick misses from Powell.
Bourque throws a big counter head kick but Powell avoids it with no problem.
Powell misses with a hook.
Bourque throws a counter combo.
Bourque looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A big right from Bourque misses.
Bourque walks forward, straight into a front kick from Powell.
Bourque checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bourque unleashes a big counter combination but Powell bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bourque dodges the punch combination from Powell.
Bourque doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Powell misses with a looping left.
A head kick misses from Bourque.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell throws a body punch but Bourque moves out of range.
Powell lands a really nice looking cross but Bourque seems unphased.
Bourque takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Powell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bourque connects with a good right hand that stumbles Powell. Powell circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bourque moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Powell avoids the head kick by Bourque.
Bourque pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Love-Hate Powell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Powell. Those never looked like landing.

Powell moves into the clinch successfully.
Bourque tries to circle away but Powell has him pinned against the cage.
I was talking to Powell's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Bourque tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Bourque breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lazy left from Powell finds it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Powell as he connects with a hook.
Bourque tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice jab there from Powell.
Powell connects with a jab.
Powell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick by Bourque misses
and Powell counters with a nice uppercut.
Bourque throws a push kick but Powell slaps the foot to one side.
Powell wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Powell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bourque fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Powell.
Bourque pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Powell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands a jab to Bourque's midsection.
Powell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bourque.
Powell is looking to slow Bourque down with leg kicks.
Powell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bourque's waist but Bourque gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powell off to one side.
Powell lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bourque tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bourque is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Powell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bourque's head backwards.
A slapping body kick lands there for Powell.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Powell, as that shot connected.
Powell is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Bourque loads up on a big right hand but Powell slips the punch.
Powell avoids the head kick by Bourque.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Powell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Powell will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bourque up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Powell.
Bourque looks winded!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Powell stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Powell lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bourque throws a head punch that misses.
Powell avoiding damage.
Powell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bourque's efforts to push away.

Powell pulls guard.
Powell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Powell managing to control the position.
Bourque missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Love-Hate Powell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bourque jabs Powell right on the nose. Powell blinks but takes it well.
Bourque misses with an uppercut
and Powell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Powell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bourque avoids the body shot from Powell.
Powell stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bourque misses with a kick to the body.
Powell lands with an uppercut that bounces Bourque off the cage and back into range.
Bourque takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque avoids the head kick by Powell.
Powell throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bourque counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab from Powell.
Powell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bourque moves away.
Bourque is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Powell feints and as Bourque raises his hands in defense, Powell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Powell wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
Powell tries to free his leg and advance position but Bourque is retaining full guard.
Powell throwing strikes but missing.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Powell from controlling successfully.
Bourque utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bourque's head.
Bourque not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Powell is looking to work some ground and pound but Bourque has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Powell from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bourque takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Timothy Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Bourque misses.
Powell feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A head kick from Bourque lands but Powell takes it in his stride.
Bourque misses with a hook.

Bourque gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bourque is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Powell tries to free his leg and advance position but Bourque is retaining full guard.
Powell landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell is looking to work some ground and pound but Bourque has wrist control.
Bourque utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bourque works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Bourque is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powell tries to free his leg and advance position but Bourque is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bourque tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Powell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bourque can do to turn this around?
Powell lands a lovely overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Love-Hate Powell dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Powell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Powell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Powell cracks Bourque with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powell throws a big elbow that misses.
Bourque has his hands on Powell's head, controlling the position.
Powell looking to sit in guard and control but Bourque gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Powell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bourque throwing strikes from guard but Powell blocks nicely.
Bourque throws a strike but Powell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Powell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Powell looking to pass the guard.
Timothy Bourque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Powell 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bourque manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Powell manages to get himself to full guard.

Bourque trying to stand up but can't free himself from Powell's guard.
Powell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Powell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Powell trying to control but Bourque is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell throwing strikes from guard but Bourque blocks nicely.
Powell is looking to work some ground and pound but Bourque has wrist control.
Powell looking to pass the guard.
Powell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Powell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Powell postures up.
Powell wants to pass the guard but Bourque is keeping the position.
Love-Hate Powell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Bourque is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Powell uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A punch combination from Powell misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Powell scores with a sloppy right hand. Bourque should have avoided that one.
Powell connects with a single shot there.
Powell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bourque.
Bourque throws a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Love-Hate Powell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Powell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Love-Hate Powell!
Love-Hate Powell really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Spartan Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.