PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jed Masilungan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Masilungan's choice of entrance music: Dying Inside . The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bourque
vs
Masilungan

192 cm
27
162 lbs
21 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
169 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Bourque!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jed Masilungan!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Bourque does no damage.
Bourque misses with an uppercut
and Masilungan counters with a straight right hand.
Masilungan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Masilungan misses with a combination
and Bourque counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bourque misses with a right hand
and Masilungan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Masilungan slips a jab from Bourque.
Bourque throws a hook but Masilungan blocks it.
Bourque misses with a few strikes there.
Masilungan fails to land the takedown.
Masilungan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bourque swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan misses with the combination.

Masilungan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bourque to the mat! Bourque manages to get full guard.
Masilungan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Masilungan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bourque works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bourque controls Masilungan momentarily but Masilungan frees himself.
Bourque avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
Masilungan postures up in Bourque's guard and throws a big left but Bourque blocks it.
Masilungan wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Masilungan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Masilungan from controlling successfully.
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.
Bourque looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bourque lunges at Masilungan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Masilungan's hand.
Masilungan delivers a nice body kick.
Masilungan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bourque.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque throws a combination that misses
and Masilungan counters with a nice body kick.
Masilungan scores with a head kick.
Bourque misses with an uppercut
and Masilungan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bourque pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Paul Bourque is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masilungan lands a leg kick that knocks Bourque off balance momentarily.
Masilungan misses with a hook to the body
letting Bourque counter with a right hand.
Bourque swinging wildly here.
Bourque throws a predictable looking body shot
and Masilungan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jed Masilungan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bourque misses with a double jab
and Masilungan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Masilungan tries to land a front kick but Bourque steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Masilungan stuns Bourque with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bourque looks to land a left hand but Masilungan moved out of range nicely.
Masilungan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Masilungan scores with a kick to the body.
Masilungan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Bourque blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan slips under a jab from Bourque.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bourque. Masilungan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bourque missing with a left hand there. Masilungan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bourque falls off balance throwing a combination
and Masilungan counters with a nice uppercut.
Bourque rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bourque takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bourque steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Masilungan. That one must have hurt.
Masilungan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Masilungan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan tries to score with a low kick but Bourque moves his leg out of the way.
Masilungan misses with a head kick.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masilungan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bourque loads up on a big right hand but Masilungan slips the punch.
Masilungan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Masilungan.
Horrible takedown by Masilungan or perhaps it was just good defense by Bourque which made him look bad.
Masilungan scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Masilungan. Bourque does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - Bourque throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jed Masilungan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Masilungan. Bourque does a little dance to reset his feet.
Masilungan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bourque if he has to take too many more of those.
Bourque will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Bourque misses with a hook. Masilungan ducked under it nicely.
Masilungan throws a leg kick that misses.
Jed Masilungan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masilungan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Masilungan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bourque.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bourque lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Masilungan circles away quickly and effectively.
Masilungan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bourque throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Masilungan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bourque.
Masilungan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Masilungan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bourque rather than just go for the knockout.
The fighters circling - Bourque throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Masilungan throws a front kick that sends Bourque stumbling back into the cage.
Bourque misses with a right hand
and Masilungan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Masilungan swings for the body but Bourque moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jed Masilungan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sloppy strikes from Bourque. Those never looked like landing.
Masilungan slips a straight right by Bourque.
Masilungan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bourque manages to avoid it.
Bourque is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Masilungan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bourque moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Masilungan tries to clinch but Bourque is having none of it.
Masilungan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque misses with a looping left.
Bourque misses with a left hand
and Masilungan counters with an inside leg kick.
Masilungan looks to land a body kick but Bourque moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque throws a lazy uppercut
and Masilungan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bourque throws an overhand right that lands on Masilungan's shoulder, as Masilungan tries to avoid the shot.
Bourque keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bourque blocks a jab.
Masilungan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bourque misses the jab.
Bourque throws a series of punches but Masilungan avoids them all with ease.
An inside leg kick lands from Masilungan.
Jab from Masilungan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Masilungan misses
and Bourque counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Masilungan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bourque throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masilungan throws a body kick that misses.
Bourque swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Masilungan swings for the body but Bourque moves out of range.
Masilungan lands a two punch combo.
Masilungan misses with an uppercut
and Bourque counters with a straight right hand.
Bourque is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan throws the kick towards the body but Bourque avoids it.
Masilungan lands an overhand right.
Bourque lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Masilungan circles away quickly and effectively.
Bourque misses with a lunging right hand
and Masilungan counters with a slapping leg kick.

Masilungan pushes Bourque up against the cage in a clinch.

Bourque breaks from the clinch.
Bourque avoids the body shot from Masilungan.
Bourque throws a series of punches but Masilungan moves out of range.
Bourque swings away with a body shot that misses
and Masilungan counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Masilungan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Masilungan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Masilungan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masilungan misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Masilungan!
Bourque connects with a nice looking jab.
Masilungan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jed Masilungan just about did enough to take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Masilungan shoots in looking for a takedown but Bourque manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Masilungan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bourque dips to his left and cracks Masilungan with an uppercut!
Masilungan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Masilungan misses the shot to the body.
Bourque misses with a left hand
and Masilungan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bourque thinking.
Bourque waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Masilungan.
Bourque misses with a lunging right hand

and Masilungan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bourque's guard.
Masilungan throwing strikes from guard but Bourque blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masilungan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bourque will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Masilungan from controlling successfully.
Masilungan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bourque works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Masilungan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Masilungan advances position into side control!
Masilungan misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Masilungan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Masilungan tries to move to mount but Bourque blocks the move with his legs.
Masilungan wants to control but Bourque is keeping him busy.
Bourque wants to control but Masilungan postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque manages to work his way to half guard, despite Masilungan's best efforts.
Bourque is not content to let Masilungan control the position.
Bourque has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Masilungan is working away from the top position though.
Masilungan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four 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 gets back to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masilungan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masilungan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Masilungan looking to pass the guard.
Masilungan passes Bourque's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jed Masilungan dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Bourque misses with a double jab
and Masilungan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Masilungan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Masilungan throws a head kick but Bourque moves out of range.
Bourque swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Masilungan moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masilungan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bourque throws a right hand that Masilungan ducks under and follows up with a left that Masilungan also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Masilungan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan shoots in and drives through. Bourque sprawls well.
A lazy left from Masilungan finds it's target.
Masilungan thows a body shot but no joy.
Masilungan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Masilungan throws a hook to the side of Bourque's head but Bourque sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Masilungan scores with a takedown into Bourque's guard.
Masilungan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Masilungan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paul Bourque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Masilungan trying to control but Bourque is working from the bottom.
Masilungan pushes down on Bourque's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Masilungan is looking to stall here but Bourque recovers full guard.
Bourque knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Masilungan on the ground.
Masilungan pushing down on Bourque's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bourque is looking to improve his position.
Bourque is refusing to be controlled, as Masilungan sits in half guard.
Masilungan controlling the pace.
Jed Masilungan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bourque is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Masilungan throwing shots but Bourque is blocking nicely.
Masilungan wants to take a breather but Bourque is having none of it.
Masilungan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jed Masilungan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Masilungan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bourque.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jed Masilungan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Masilungan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 45:50
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jed Masilungan!
Jed Masilungan is the new lightweight champion!