PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music. 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
Aoki

192 cm
42
156 lbs
47 - 25 - 0

155 cm
44
147 lbs
41 - 25 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

GREEN!160

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 47 - 25 - 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 41 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bourque.
Bourque has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Warehouse in the buildup to the fight.
Bourque swinging wildly here.
Bourque circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big left from Bourque misses.
Aoki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bourque slips under a jab.
Aoki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bourque.
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.
Aoki throws out a loose jab but Bourque uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bourque gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bourque throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aoki throws a head kick that misses.
Bourque lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque throws a right hand that Aoki ducks under and follows up with a left that Aoki also avoids with ease.
Aoki moves out of range as Bourque strikes.
Bourque moves out of range as Aoki strikes.
Aoki shoots in and drives through. Bourque sprawls well.

Aoki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bourque looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque is looking to break free of the clinch but Aoki has double underhooks.
Bourque wants to break free but Aoki has control.
Bourque looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aoki missing with knees to the body.
Aoki taking a breather.
Bourque looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Aoki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aoki has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bourque after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bourque wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A body shot lands from Aoki.

Bourque breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aoki takes a swing at Bourque's ribcage but misses.
Aoki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Aoki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Aoki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bourque.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bourque rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Aoki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bourque.
Bourque connects with a looping right hand.
Aoki misses with a looping right.
Aoki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Aoki.
Aoki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bourque connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a jab but it's blocked by Bourque.
Donk. Bourque catches Aoki right on the button with a cross.
A punch combination from Aoki misses.
Bourque dips to his left and cracks Aoki with an uppercut!
Aoki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
An inside leg kick from Aoki misses.
No joy there for Aoki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bourque bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aoki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Paul Bourque is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bourque stalling in the clinch.
Bourque letting Aoki take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bourque wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bourque blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bourque.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Bourque is blocking nicely.
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 is trying to break the clinch but Aoki is controlling him.
Aoki leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Masakazu Aoki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bourque's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bourque's jab looks to have found its range, popping Aoki under the eye.
Bourque throws a body punch but Aoki moves out of range.
Bourque takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Aoki scores with a sloppy right hand. Bourque should have avoided that one.
Bourque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aoki misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bourque.
Bourque looks to land a right hand but Aoki moved out of range.
Bourque moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from Aoki misses.
Aoki lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aoki throws the kick towards the body but Bourque avoids it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bourque!

It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
Aoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bourque misses with a looping right.
Bourque swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Aoki slips a straight right by Bourque.
Bourque connects with a looping right hand.
Bourque moves out of range as Aoki strikes.
Bourque scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aoki in his tracks.
Aoki throws a hook but Bourque avoids it easily.
Bourque misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki throws a lazy uppercut
and Bourque connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bourque throws a lazy right hand but Aoki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bourque throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bourque throws a series of punches but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bourque circles away quickly and effectively.
Bourque lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bourque takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bourque.
Aoki misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bourque thuds his right hand into Aoki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Aoki is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Aoki scores with a jab to the head.
Bourque moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bourque is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aoki can do to turn this around?
Bourque tries to bum rush Aoki with a series of wild strikes but Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bourque uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
Bourque scores with a jab. Aoki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bourque scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bourque swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aoki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bourque circles away quickly and effectively.
Bourque is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bourque jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bourque wants to clinch up but Aoki keeps it at a distance.
Aoki misses with a few strikes there.
Bourque cracks Aoki with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bourque throws a good cross that connects.
Bourque misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bourque is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque misses with a straight left.
Bourque keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aoki blocks a jab.
Bourque thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bourque tries to clinch up.
Bourque throws a good cross that connects.
Aoki wants to clinch up but Bourque keeps it at a distance.
Bourque connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bourque lands with an overhand left.
Bourque throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Aoki.
Bourque swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Aoki.
Paul Bourque is winning the standup battle so far.
Aoki takes a swing at Bourque's ribcage but misses.

Aoki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Aoki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bourque seems a little lost for a moment, as Aoki dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bourque is trying to escape the position but Aoki is controlling the position.

Aoki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aoki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bourque trying to remain calm as Aoki controls from the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bourque is not content to let Aoki control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Aoki is trying to ground and pound but Bourque uses the momentary lack of control by Aoki to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Bourque dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Aoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aoki looks to land a left hand but Bourque moved out of range nicely.
Bourque scores with a punch to the head.
Aoki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bourque doesn't seem bothered though.
Aoki missing with a left hand there. Bourque was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bourque cracks Aoki with a right hand to the side of the head.
No joy there for Bourque, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bourque blocks a head kick by Aoki.
Bourque lands a lovely overhand right.
Bourque digs a good hook to Aoki's body.
Aoki thuds his shin into the meat of Bourque's side.
Aoki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bourque looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bourque swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bourque lands a really nice looking cross but Aoki seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bourque throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bourque throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aoki thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bourque. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Aoki defending well as Bourque loads up on a big left hand.
Aoki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Aoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bourque moves away.
Bourque slips a straight right by Aoki.
Aoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bourque moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bourque cracks Aoki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Aoki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aoki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Paul Bourque has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakazu Aoki.
Bourque lunges at Aoki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Aoki's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque throws a shot from downtown. Aoki moves away and avoids it.
Bourque ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bourque on the side of the head.
Bourque cracks Aoki with an open hand slap.
Bourque slips under a jab.
Bourque fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bourque throws a shot to the body.

Aoki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bourque was covering up waiting for the punch and Aoki finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Bourque tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Aoki is pushing down on Bourque's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bourque is fighting to maintain full guard but Aoki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Bourque is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Aoki in particular looking to stall.

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.
Aoki is stalling here. Bourque is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Aoki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bourque has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Bourque stands up.

Aoki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bourque to the ground. Aoki is now in Bourque's guard.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aoki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bourque trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Bourque showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bourque has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Bourque!
Paul Bourque thanked the fans post fight for their support.