PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Moreira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bourque
vs
Moreira

192 cm
51
156 lbs
59 - 33 - 2

170 cm
50
148 lbs
36 - 28 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 59 - 33 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Bourque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Moreira!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bourque uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Moreira.
Bourque scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Moreira throws a hook but Bourque blocks it.
Bourque stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Moreira shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bourque won't allow Moreira to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moreira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bourque defending well though.
Moreira is taking a breather. Bourque says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bourque is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Moreira scores with a couple of nice shots.
Moreira looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreira perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Moreira looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Moreira thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Moreira trying to control the action but Bourque is working from the bottom.
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.

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.
Moreira sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bourque is staying active underneath Moreira, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bourque. Moreira does a little dance to reset his feet.
Moreira throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
No joy there for Bourque, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bourque connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Moreira misses with a left hand
and Bourque connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bourque scores with a punch to the head.

Bourque takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreira misses with a hook to the ribs.
Moreira misses with some punches.
Moreira lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Moreira turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bourque taking punishment in the form of punches.
Moreira is staying tight to Bourque's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Moreira is looking to take a break and control but Bourque is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Moreira is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Moreira seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bourque is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Moreira's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Moreira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Moreira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Moreira with the ground and pound but Bourque uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moreira pushes down on Bourque's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Moreira not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Moreira dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bourque avoids the body shot from Moreira.
Bourque misses with a series of wild punches.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A jab from Bourque does it's job there.
Bourque doesn't manage to clinch there - Moreira circles away.
Moreira uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bourque.
Bourque is looking to clinch but Moreira is avoiding it.
Moreira thinks about the counter body kick.
Moreira swings for the body but Bourque moves out of range.
Moreira throws a right and a left that both miss.
Moreira misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Moreira shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Moreira showed some decent athleticism there.
Moreira not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque has hold of Moreira's hands but Moreira slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Moreira tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bourque knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Moreira seems to be looking for submissions.
Moreira wants to control but Bourque is keeping him busy.
Bourque won't allow Moreira to pass to mount.
Bourque is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bourque trying to control here.
Bourque is controlling Moreira's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Bourque keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bourque comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bourque uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Moreira.
Bourque appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Moreira throws a body punch but Bourque moves out of range.
Moreira ducks under a wild hook from Bourque.
Moreira moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bourque lunges at Moreira with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Moreira's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque misses with a left hand
and Moreira counters with a left to the body.
Bourque lands with an uppercut that bounces Moreira off the cage and back into range.
Moreira gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Paul Bourque is winning the standup battle so far.
Moreira connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bourque is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Moreira shoots in for a takedown but Bourque shows good takedown defense.
Bourque misses with a few strikes there.
Bourque misses the jab.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moreira displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Paul Bourque has been cut.

Moreira changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bourque looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Moreira wants to control for a moment but Bourque uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Moreira is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreira wants to control but Bourque is keeping him busy.
Moreira content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bourque is refusing to be controlled, as Moreira sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Moreira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Bourque's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Moreira has a takedown stuffed.
Moreira takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Moreira dives in for a single leg takedown but Bourque sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No joy there for Bourque, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bourque bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bourque misses the shot to the body.
Moreira fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bourque tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Moreira paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Moreira misses with an uppercut
and Bourque counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque throws a body punch but Moreira moves out of range.

Moreira closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bourque quickly recovers to half guard.
Moreira thows a huge punch but Bourque dodges it nicely.
Moreira is just content to waste time from the top position. Bourque takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bourque is keeping the position for now.
Daniel Moreira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bourque utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Moreira trying to control the position from guard on top but Bourque is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moreira controlling from the top position.
Moreira passes Bourque's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Paul Bourque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Moreira throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Daniel Moreira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bourque wants to control the action here but instead Moreira manages to pass to full mount!
Moreira throws some wild stikes that Bourque manages to avoid easily.
Moreira looking to control but Bourque is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Moreira lands a big elbow.
Moreira has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moreira avoids the attempt from Bourque to control.
Moreira controlling the position easily from mount.
Moreira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bourque tries to roll but Moreira sticks to his back.
Bourque is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The referee is taking a good look at Bourque as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Moreira!
I would not like to be Bourque right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bourque trying to control the action but Moreira just sinks the hooks in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Moreira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Moreira 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Moreira!
Our winner, Daniel Moreira, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.