PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Sotiropoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sotiropoulos has chosen The Humbling River as his entrance music. George Sotiropoulos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bourque
vs
Sotiropoulos

192 cm
29
162 lbs
25 - 4 - 0

175 cm
26
162 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 4 - 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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Sotiropoulos!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sotiropoulos misses with a left hand
and Bourque counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bourque staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Bourque misses the target.
Sotiropoulos misses with a straight right.
Sotiropoulos throws a right hand that misses
and Bourque counters with a series of strikes. Sotiropoulos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bourque throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sotiropoulos stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bourque uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sotiropoulos.
A slow jab from Bourque misses its intended target.
Sotiropoulos missing with a left hand there. Bourque was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bourque has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sotiropoulos.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Bourque throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sotiropoulos misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos misses with a left hand
and Bourque makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sotiropoulos misses with an uppercut. Bourque saw that one coming.
Bourque uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sotiropoulos.
Good work by Bourque as he checks the leg kick.
Bourque keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sotiropoulos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bourque's half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sotiropoulos moves into full mount! Bourque won't be happy about that!
Bourque is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos thowing shots but they're missing.
Poor strikes thrown by Sotiropoulos there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sotiropoulos looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bourque is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sotiropoulos sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos looking to ground and pound but Bourque is blocking nicely.
Sotiropoulos controlling the position easily from mount.
Sotiropoulos throwing strikes here but Bourque is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bourque blocking the ground and pound.
Sotiropoulos wants to control the pace but Bourque is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos throwing strikes here but Bourque is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sotiropoulos wants to control the pace but Bourque is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sotiropoulos dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Sotiropoulos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A decent looking cross lands there for Bourque.

It looks like George Sotiropoulos has been cut.
Sotiropoulos is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bourque.
Sotiropoulos throws an overhand right that lands on Bourque's shoulder, as Bourque tries to avoid the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sotiropoulos. Bourque does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sotiropoulos throws a hook but Bourque blocks it.
Jab by Sotiropoulos.

It looks like Paul Bourque has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sotiropoulos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sotiropoulos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bourque.
Bourque misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos throws a right and a left that Bourque avoids nicely.
Sotiropoulos looks for a takedown but Bourque sprawls well.
Sotiropoulos misses with a low kick as Bourque jumps back.
Paul Bourque is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos moves out of range as Bourque strikes.
Sotiropoulos misses with an uppercut. Bourque saw that one coming.
Sotiropoulos throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bourque fails to land with a series of punches.
Bourque on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bourque throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sotiropoulos throws a hook but Bourque avoids it easily.
Bourque connects with the punch.
Sotiropoulos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bourque manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sotiropoulos moves away.
Sotiropoulos cracks a nice hook into Bourque's ribs.
Bourque slips a straight right by Sotiropoulos.
Nice uppercut there from Bourque.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sotiropoulos lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Bourque sprawling to the canvas. Sotiropoulos follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Bourque hang on?

Bourque is rocked!
Sotiropoulos thows a huge punch but Bourque dodges it nicely.
Bourque is staying active underneath Sotiropoulos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sotiropoulos drops an elbow to the side of Bourque's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos throwing shots but Bourque is blocking nicely.
Sotiropoulos is just content to waste time from the top position. Bourque takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sotiropoulos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bourque works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sotiropoulos looking to pass the guard.
Sotiropoulos throws and elbow that misses. Bourque uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sotiropoulos's guard. Nice move by Bourque!
Bourque advances to half guard.
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 four minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos wants to improve his position but Bourque is controlling well.
Sotiropoulos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sotiropoulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bourque prevents Sotiropoulos from getting back to his feet.

Bourque decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sotiropoulos, up you get!
Sotiropoulos cracks a nice hook into Bourque's ribs.
Bourque sizes up Sotiropoulos with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sotiropoulos misses with a combination
and Bourque counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Sotiropoulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sotiropoulos connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bourque is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sotiropoulos misses with a looping right.
A big left from Sotiropoulos misses.
Sotiropoulos loads up on a big right hand but Bourque slips the punch.
Sotiropoulos is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Sotiropoulos swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bourque.
Sotiropoulos just misses with a punch to the body.
Sotiropoulos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sotiropoulos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sotiropoulos lands a really nice looking cross but Bourque seems unphased.
Bourque slips under a jab from Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos misses with a left hand
and Bourque counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sotiropoulos thinking.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos throws a hook to the side of Bourque's head but Bourque sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sotiropoulos misses with a hook.
Bourque lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sotiropoulos takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bourque thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sotiropoulos throws out a loose jab but Bourque uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sotiropoulos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bourque throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sotiropoulos on the side of the head.
George Sotiropoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bourque ducks under a wild hook from Sotiropoulos.
A swing and a miss from Bourque.
Paul Bourque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque lands a jab to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sotiropoulos rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bourque counters with a nice uppercut.
Sotiropoulos bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bourque's head backwards.
Sotiropoulos misses with an uppercut. Bourque saw that one coming.
Bourque on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sotiropoulos. Sotiropoulos obviously looking to wear him down.
Bourque misses with a straight left.
Sotiropoulos is looking to land body kicks.
Sotiropoulos wants to slow Bourque down by chopping away at his legs.
Bourque ducks under a wild hook from Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos misses with an uppercut.
Bourque lands with a hook. Sotiropoulos tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bourque moves out of range of the strikes.
Bourque stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sotiropoulos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bourque sprawls well. Bourque wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sotiropoulos gets slowly back to his feet.
Bourque needs to keep his hands up - Sotiropoulos had a free shot at his head there.
Bourque digs a good hook to Sotiropoulos's body.
Bourque slips under a jab from Sotiropoulos.
Bourque fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sotiropoulos misses its intended target.
Bourque misses with a double jab.
Sotiropoulos throws a hook but Bourque avoids it easily.
Bourque slips a straight right by Sotiropoulos.
Bourque uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sotiropoulos.
Bourque uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos throws out a leg kick but Bourque moves out of range and Sotiropoulos only half commits.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotiropoulos throws a lazy uppercut
and Bourque counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sotiropoulos throws a wild body kick that Bourque sees coming a mile off.
Bourque keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sotiropoulos.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to George Sotiropoulos.
Well Sotiropoulos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Sotiropoulos!