PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Springs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bourque
vs
Springs

192 cm
31
162 lbs
26 - 7 - 0

180 cm
28
169 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q+Laundry!
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q+Laundry!

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 26 - 7 - 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 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Springs!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bourque lands with a hook. Springs tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Springs misses with an uppercut
and Bourque connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big right from Springs misses.
Springs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bourque moves away.
Bourque looks to land a combination but Springs avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Springs. Bourque does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bourque fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Springs looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
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 combination from Bourque does no damage.
Springs misses with a double jab
and Bourque counters with a left to the body.
Springs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bourque.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Springs lands a jab to the nose.
Bourque misses with a looping left.
Bourque fails to land with a series of punches.
Springs misses with a hook. Bourque ducked under it nicely.
Bourque lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bourque.
Paul Bourque is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Bourque. Those never looked like landing.
Springs connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Springs swings for the body but Bourque moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Springs misses with a wild body shot.
Bourque swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Springs misses with an uppercut
and Bourque counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nate Springs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Springs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bourque moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab by Springs.
Bourque blocks the body kick.
Springs cracks Bourque with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Springs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Springs ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bourque duly obliges.
Springs throws a right and a left that Bourque avoids nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Bourque as he connects with a hook.
Bourque slips under a jab from Springs.
A swing and a miss from Bourque.
Springs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bourque missing with a left hand there. Springs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bourque avoids the body shot from Springs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Springs counters with a straight right hand.
Bourque looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bourque stuffs the takedown attempt from Springs. Springs gets slowly back to his feet.
Bourque keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Springs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Springs looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Springs won't allow Bourque to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Bourque will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bourque gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Springs.
Springs misses with a body punch
and Bourque connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Springs tests Bourque's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bourque lands with a cross.
Springs's corner calls for a 1-2. Springs obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Bourque blocks a jab.
Springs misses with an uppercut. Bourque saw that one coming.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Springs, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Springs scores with the left hand. Bourque knows he should have avoided that one.
Bourque uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Springs misses with a lunging right hand
and Bourque counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Springs tests Bourque's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bourque slips a jab from Springs.
Springs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bourque fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Springs on the side of the head.
Springs misses with a lunging right hand
and Bourque counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Springs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bourque takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bourque bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Springs throws an off balance right hand
and Bourque counters with a left and a right that stings Springs.
Springs loads up on a big right hand but Bourque slips the punch.
Bourque loads up on a big right hand but Springs slips the punch.
Springs swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Springs. Bourque does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bourque scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Springs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bourque moves out of range of the strikes.
Bourque lands with a straight right. Springs didn't see that one coming.
Bourque throws a big shot that misses.
Bourque on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bourque lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Springs at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Springs takes one to the chin there.
Springs fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Paul Bourque is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Springs looks to land a left hand but Bourque moved out of range nicely.
Springs thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Springs misses the target.
Good standup being displayed there by Springs as he connects with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bourque closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Springs throws an off balance right hand
and Bourque counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Bourque dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bourque takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Springs connects with a jab.
Springs shoots in for a takedown but Bourque shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Springs misses.
Bourque ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Springs moves away.
Springs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bourque.

Springs fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bourque to the ground. Springs is now in Bourque's guard.

Springs drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bourque looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bourque looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bourque!
Bourque tries to stand but Springs is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque tries to stand but Springs controls the position and pulls Bourque into his guard.
Bourque stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Springs swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Springs is looking for a triangle but Bourque pushes his legs off easily.
Bourque would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bourque throwing strikes from guard but Springs blocks nicely.
Springs has a closed guard, preventing Bourque from standing up.
Paul Bourque is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Springs's guard.

Bourque decides to stand and escape the position.
Bourque falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Springs to counter with a crisp jab.
Bourque lands with a cross.
Springs lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Springs lands with a hook. Bourque tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Springs misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nate Springs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Springs swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Springs throws a hook but Bourque blocks it.
Springs fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bourque slips a jab from Springs.
Springs swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bourque counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Springs thinking.
Springs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bourque bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bourque slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Springs.
Springs lands an overhand right.
Nice shot by Bourque.
Bourque throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bourque connects with a looping right hand.
Bourque uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Springs.
Bourque is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Springs walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bourque checks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Springs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bourque 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

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